Public health officials have issued a warning regarding possible rabies exposure for individuals who stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, between May 5 and July 27 of this year.
This precautionary measure follows the discovery of a suspected bat colony in an attic space above certain guest rooms.
Health authorities are taking the situation seriously, despite all captured bats testing negative for the rabies virus.
The outreach affects hundreds of visitors across the United States, as the Wyoming Department of Health coordinated with the National Park Service and local health departments to assess risk and recommend appropriate treatments.
Rabies is a deadly disease, and its transmission is particularly concerning due to the difficulty of detecting bat bites, which can be small and easily overlooked.
The affected rooms include 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, and 530.
State public health officials reported that approximately 230 bookings from guests in 38 different U.S. states and seven countries may have been involved.
While testing has confirmed that the captured bats do not carry rabies, the investigations will continue until officials are entirely certain of the risks involved, according to Wyoming state public health veterinarian Emily Curren.
Since June 2, Grand Teton Lodge Company has received eight reports of overnight guests who might have been in contact with bats from the affected rooms.
To mitigate risks, park officials have closed all those rooms to the public.
The Wyoming Department of Health is leading the response and is collaborating with the CDC and local health agencies to conduct individual risk assessments for potentially exposed guests.
Health agencies recommend anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a bat to immediately wash the wound and reach out to local health authorities or healthcare providers regarding postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is crucial in preventing rabies if administered before the onset of symptoms.
Emily Davis, Public Affairs Officer for Grand Teton National Park, emphasized that the park staff is working closely with various health entities to manage potential guest exposures.
As part of their outreach, the Wyoming Department of Health aims to contact all individuals who stayed in the affected rooms to evaluate their risk and determine whether they require rabies preventive treatment.
Emily Curren reiterated the importance of the ongoing investigation, stating that it is necessary to address potential rabies exposure seriously, as there is no way to completely rule it out.
Travis Riddell, director of the Teton County Public Health Department, noted a silver lining in that authorities know exactly who the potentially exposed individuals are, which aids in the response effort.
Alexia Harrist, the State Health Officer, pointed out that the primary concern is for anyone who has had direct contact with bats, as rabies can be transmitted through their saliva.
Individuals who are seeking a formal risk assessment were instructed to contact the Grand Teton Lodge Company via email at [email protected] or by calling 307-543-3044.
As the situation develops, local and state health officials are continuing to evaluate the risk for those who spent time in the affected areas of the lodge, making decisions on rabies vaccinations and PEP based on clinical evaluations in guests’ home jurisdictions.
image source from：newsweek
