Two rabid bats found in Elko County

Two dead bats turned in to the Nevada Department of Agriculture's Elko Animal Disease Laboratory this month have tested positive for rabies.

Northeastern Nevada is home to 16 species of insect-eating bats that are an integral part of the ecosystem. With the onset of summer and insect season, there is more bat activity in Nevada, which increases the potential for human and bat contact.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system. Rabies produces a characteristic, rapidly progressive disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord nerves) and is generally fatal. Rabies may be transmitted via bites or other exposure to the saliva of infected mammals.