Maine CDC Health Advisory

March 22, 2019

Rabies Positive Bat in Bangor Potentially Exposes Several Individuals

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the circumstances surrounding a rabid bat in the general area outside the Shaw House in Bangor on the weekend of March 16 and 17. The bat tested positive for rabies at Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL).

Maine CDC is working closely with the community to identify all individuals who may have handled the bat, particularly those that handled it with bare hands, and make recommendations for rabies post-exposure vaccination. Rabies is fatal, so appropriate vaccination and prophylaxis for individuals who handled the bat with bare hands is essential.

The intent of this HAN is to remind Mainers that bats are wild animals and should not be handled without proper protection, encourage rabies post-exposure vaccination for individuals potentially exposed to this bat, and alert others to the presence of a rabid bat in the community.

Advisory (PDF)