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Two bats have tested positive for the rabies virus in Weber County, prompting a warning from health officials to avoid touching wild animals.
People also should be sure their pets' rabies vaccinations are current, since unvaccinated cats and dogs can carry the virus, the Weber-Morgan Health Department said.
Bats are the most common carrier of rabies in Utah, but skunks, raccoons and foxes also can transmit the disease. The virus, usually fatal, is spread through exposure to the saliva of an infected animal.
One of the bats was found in Huntsville and another in Farr West, health-department spokeswoman Lori Buttars said Tuesday afternoon.
A dog in Farr West brought that bat to his owner, who called the Division of Wildlife Resources to collect the bat and have it tested, she said.
"The majority of our bats in our population are healthy and tend to keep to themselves," Amy Carter, communicable disease nurse with the Weber-Morgan Health Department, said in a news release. "However, if you see one in the daylight, or if it's in a place where you or your pet can pick them up and play with them, there's a good chance it is ill."
Bat bites and scratches, in particular, can be very small and difficult to see. They should be washed with soap and water and medical treatment should be sought. Carter said finding a bat in a bedroom, tent or other sleeping area is considered an exposure.
Anyone who finds a sick or dead bat should cover it with a heavy blanket or plastic container and call the local health department or local animal control agency, she said.
Twitter: @KristenMoulton