Man bit by rabid bat in south-central Idaho

[TexasTowelie]

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Public health officials say a man in south-central Idaho is receiving treatment after being bitten by a bat that has tested positive for rabies.

Tanis Maxwell, an epidemiologist with South Central Public Health District, said the man was bit in Twin Falls County on Monday, the Times-News reported. The man, whose name has not been released, is being treated at a local hospital.

Maxwell said the bat was captured and sent to the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories for testing. Rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

Nineteen animals have tested positive for rabies across Idaho since June.

Read more: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/oct/01/man-bit-by-rabid-bat-in-south-central-idaho/

[thucythucy]

1. I thought Trump was in Pennsylvania.

Seriously, I hope the man will be okay, but I just couldn't resist.

Bad me. Bad bad bad.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

2. The paradox of rabid bats

Though bats rarely are infected by rabies ~0.5%, 90% of human rabies cases come from contact with bats.

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/education/

Think about it. Where can a flying creature contract rabies? Or what kind of rabid creature could attack a bat and let the bat live to spread the disease.

I work nights so I have interacted with many bats. I think they are cool as hell. I get up close and personal with about one a year, but have never been bitten.

Food for thought.