Prairie Mountain Health Sees Surge in Potential Bat Exposures and Rabies Risk

Surge in Potential Bat Exposures Raises Rabies Concerns

Doctors in Manitoba’s Prairie Mountain Health region are warning about the dangers of human contact with bats following a sharp increase in reported potential exposures and the associated risk of rabies. The region has assessed 40 people for possible bat exposure so far this year—a substantial jump from just 10 cases reported in 2025, according to a statement from Prairie Mountain Health.

Bats as Rabies Carriers

Though not the most common source of rabies transmission to humans in Manitoba, bats can carry the virus. Dr. Anna Johnston, medical officer of health for Prairie Mountain Health, emphasized the need for immediate medical assessment following any interaction with a bat because exposure can often go unnoticed due to the animal's small size and the absence of visible bite or scratch marks. "A person may not feel a bat bite or a bat scratch," Johnston explained. "They may not have any mark on their skin."

Increase in Reports and Public Awareness

While the cause of this spike in reported cases is unclear, Dr. Johnston suspects heightened public awareness may be responsible, rather than an actual rise in local bat populations. Recent high-profile incidents, such as the death of an 11-year-old in Ontario in 2024 and multiple potential exposures in Quebec during the summer, may have contributed to the public’s awareness of rabies risks and the necessity of reporting bat encounters.

Craig Willis, a professor at the University of Winnipeg specializing in bat biology, echoed this sentiment. He believes increased vigilance around rabies is prompting more people to seek medical advice after contact with bats. Willis also noted that rabies is rare in bats, with bats accounting for less than two percent of animals testing positive for rabies with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency since 2014.

Monitoring Bat Populations and Disease

Despite the increase in reported exposures, Willis doubts that bat populations are rising, attributing most sightings to attentive observers. He highlighted the impact of white-nose syndrome, a severe fungal disease first detected in Manitoba in 2018, which has devastated hibernating bats, killing 10 to 20 percent of their population. Most Manitoba bats, including big brown bats, little brown bats, and migratory silver-haired bats, remain endangered. Public reporting via citizen science initiatives, such as Neighbourhood Bat Watch, plays a role in monitoring these populations.

Rabies Prevention and Response

Rabies has a typical human incubation period of three to eight weeks and is almost always fatal once symptoms set in. Fortunately, Dr. Johnston reported that there have been no human rabies deaths in the health region. Prevention remains essential: immediate and thorough washing of any bites or scratches with soap and water is critical, followed by prompt medical consultation. Post-exposure vaccination can prevent rabies from developing if administered quickly after a suspected exposure.

This year, one bat tested by Prairie Mountain Health showed positive for rabies, matching the number seen in 2025. Across Manitoba, provincial data shows 100 samples assessed for rabies so far this year, with 17 from bats and three positive results—two involving bats.

Ongoing Vigilance

Prairie Mountain Health will continue to monitor for rabies while encouraging the public to report all possible exposures to health-care providers. "On the plus side, people are really reporting the exposures … and we're not seeing anyone developing rabies," said Dr. Johnston. "That gives us some reassurance that we're not missing anything, that people are doing a very good job of reporting."

Source: cbc.ca.