Wyoming woman dies of rabies after being bitten by a bat

It’s a historic first for the state of Wyoming, though one that Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) officials would rather had never happened – a 77-year-old unnamed woman from Lander has died from rabies. The 77-year-old, whose name has not yet been released, contracted the disease August 21 after being bit by a bat.

She began showing symptoms a few weeks later and was taken to hospital locally.

She was subsequently transferred to another hospital in Salt Lake City where, officials say, she died on Saturday.

The case is believed to be the first ever human rabies case in Wyoming, as well as the first human fatality from this deadly disease there.

In 2014, the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab confirmed 60 cases of rabies, which included 52 skunks, one fox, one cat and six bats.

Rabies is accountable for 55,000 deaths in humans, per year, as previously reported by HNGN. It is 99.9 percent fatal.

Symptoms of rabies often include weakness, paralysis or behavioral changes.

The vaccinations are likely to be recommended for dozens more as public health officials in Wyoming and Utah widen the scope of an investigation that has seen medical workers go door-to-door in the woman’s neighborhood and elsewhere seeking those who may be at risk after coming into contact with her, Musgrave said.

A local veterinarian Kathy Ilgen alerted us to the case during Tuesday’s news talk show, Public Pulse.

“We are acting real fast to identify the people who need shots”, Musgrave said.