❓WHAT HAPPENED: Health officials are attempting to contact hundreds of visitors to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park after discovering a suspected bat colony in an attic above guest rooms at the Jackson Lake Lodge.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wyoming Department of Health, the National Park Service, Grand Teton Lodge Company, and federal health officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The potential exposure dates back to May 2025 at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
💬KEY QUOTE: “As a precaution, the affected rooms are closed while public health professionals conduct further assessments and provide recommendations for mitigation.” – National Park Service
🎯IMPACT: Over 200 guests may need rabies risk assessments, with state and federal health officials coordinating preventive treatment as needed.
Public health authorities are reaching out to guests who recently stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming‘s Grand Teton National Park after a suspected bat colony was discovered in the attic space above several guest rooms. Officials believe more than 200 individuals may have been exposed to bats that may be infected with the rabies virus since the lodge opened for the season in May 2025.
In a public statement, the National Park Service (NPS) noted: “[A]ffected rooms are closed while public health professionals conduct further assessments and provide recommendations for mitigation.”
The primary concern stems from the possibility of bat-related rabies exposure, which can occur through bites or scratches that are often so small they go unnoticed. According to Dr. Alexia Harrist, Wyoming’s state health officer, “rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but can be prevented with timely post-exposure vaccines.” She emphasized that individuals who may not be aware of contact with bats, such as children or those in deep sleep, are particularly vulnerable.
The Wyoming Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are overseeing the investigation and are coordinating with local health officials to identify and assist affected guests. “State public health officials are reaching out to these guests directly to assess if they had exposure to a bat while staying in any of these rooms and determine if they meet the risk criteria for receiving rabies preventive treatment,” the NPS stated, adding: “Individuals who meet the risk criteria for a rabies exposure will be connected with the appropriate provider in their home state for preventive treatment.”
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