An Infected Bat Was Found In Boise… How Big Of A Threat Is It?

There's a lot of talk about "threats" these days, isn't there? There's so much going on in the world, it's easy to forget about what's happening in our own backyard.

And with the recent news of an infected bat being found in downtown Boise, it's important to ask: how much danger are we in?

An Infected Bat Was Found In Downtown Boise

According to a report from Central Health District, "a bat tested positive for rabies after it was found this week in Downtown Boise in front of the Owyhee Building on Main Street."

"Tests confirming the rabies virus came back positive on Wednesday, June 18th."

Now, we can understand why someone might read that and instantly think of all the talk about the infected bat who some believe started the COVID-19 pandemic.

ALSO READ: New COVID Variant Brings "Razor-Like" Symptoms

The news of the infected bat quickly spread to social media and other news outlets, but we had to stop and ask ourselves: "Are we in serious trouble because of this rabies-infested bat?"

How Much Of A Threat Are Rabies-Infested Bats In Boise?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bats are responsible for about 7 in 10 rabies deaths among people who are infected.

While that number is pretty high, it's also important to know that the US only averages one to three human cases of rabies a year, according to the CDC.

Thanks to vaccines and medical science, it doesn't seem like we have too much to worry about when it comes to catching some rabies from bats. Central Health District is reminding people who stumble across an animal or bat they think might have rabies to never handle the bat with their bare hands.

If you have to pick it up for whatever reason, wear thick rubber globes and store the creature in a container without making contact with it.

And maybe don't eat it or put it near your mouth.