Bat-related rabies risk at Jackson Lake Lodge prompts guest outreach

Health officials in Wyoming are notifying hundreds of guests who stayed at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park after the discovery of a bat colony in an attic above eight rooms. The possibility of rabies exposure has prompted a coordinated outreach effort that spans dozens of states and several countries, with authorities urging those who may have been exposed to seek medical guidance about post-exposure prophylaxis.

The affected rooms are 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528 and 530. The lodge, which opened for the season in May, recorded roughly 250 reservations for those rooms through late July, meaning up to about 500 people could have stayed in the potential exposure area. The discovery followed eight reports of overnight guests encountering bats, and the cabins have remained closed and unoccupied since July 27 while investigators assess risk and determine next steps. Public health officials said they are contacting guests who stayed in the affected rooms and, depending on individual circumstances, may advise them to pursue rabies preventive treatment.

Health officials stress that bat bites and scratches can be small or invisible, a point underscored by state...