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EH&S ADVISORY
BATS IN THE MEDICAL CENTER

The bat season is once again upon us and the Pest Control Unit of the Environmental Health & Safety Department has recently responded to several complaints of bats entering the Medical Center.

The highest concentration of complaints has been in the Medical School and the bats are most likely entering the building through open doors and windows in the School. Once in the building however, the bats can travel quickly and have been found in patient rooms in SMH. The peak times we have problems with bats entering our buildings is midsummer to early fall. The following procedures are asked of all staff to minimize problems with bats:

    1. Close all windows tightly in your labs, offices, halls, etc. before leaving work. If you work at night close the window before dusk since this is the time they attempt to enter the building. If the window has to opened due to high room temperatures, at least keep the window closed until darkness has set in.


    2. Make sure all exit doors to the outside are closed tightly behind you. If you see a door propped open please close it.


    3. If a bat is spotted in your area during the hours of 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, immediately contact the Pest Control Unit at x53242. During off hours, notify Security at x53333. Do not attempt to catch the bat yourself. (Even though rabies is not endemic in bats in this area, they have the potential to carry the virus which can be transmitted to humans via a bite, cut or scratch from the bat. Even dead bats can transmit the rabies virus.) You can help by closing doors to confine it to one area, if possible.


    4. If you should be bitten or scratched by a bat, and the skin tissue is broken, it is extremely important that it be caught (without destroying the brain tissue) so it can be quickly tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be found and tested, you may have to undergo rabies treatment. If you are bitten contact UHS.

QUESTIONS? Contact the EH&S Pest Control Unit at (585) 275-3242 or by e-mail to EH&S Questions

This page last updated 9/29/2004. Disclaimer.