Health warning issued after rabid bat found at OKC zoo

Halloween is weeks away but one of the holiday’s iconic creatures already is causing some fright, or at least a little uneasiness.

A rabid bat found on Oklahoma City Zoo grounds Sunday afternoon prompted state health department officials to issue a warning Thursday to anyone who might have come into physical contact with the animal.

A zoo employee found the bat and alerted veterinary staff. Zoo veterinarian Jennifer D’Agostino said the bat was euthanized after being found ill and in distress. The zoo then sent it to the Oklahoma State Department of Health where it tested positive for rabies.

It’s the third rabid animal identified in Oklahoma City this year. Seven were found in 2016. Rabies is a viral disease which affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health is asking anyone who might have came into physical contact with the bat to get tested for rabies. Spokeswoman Jamie Dukes said as of Thursday afternoon no one had come forward.

Bats and other vermin that make their way onto the grounds are an issue the zoo staff monitors closely.

“There’s certainly always a risk, but we mitigate it by vaccinating all of our mammals for rabies,” D’Agostino said. “If one of our animals were to be bitten by a bat there would be a lower risk of contracting it because we vaccinate.”

Bites aren’t the only concern.

“If we had a situation where one of our big cats caught and killed a wild animal, we might go ahead and boost their vaccine as an extra precaution,” she said.

The most common animals to infiltrate the zoo are raccoons, possums and squirrels, along with the occasional skunk. Those pose other risks besides rabies.

“The main problem would be intestinal parasites,” D’Agostino said. If an animal is taking up residence in one of the zoo habitats, it is trapped and relocated, she said.

The health department epidemiologist-on-call can be reached at 405271-4060 or 800-2345963.