Minneapolis Officials Seek Woman Who Handled Rabid Bat

Health officials in Minneapolis are urgently seeking an unidentified woman who was observed handling a rabid bat, leading to public appeals and a search effort. Flyers distributed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) detail the encounter, which has generated significant attention and concern on social media platforms.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when the woman, described as a 25 to 30-year-old white female approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall with curly brown hair, was seen with a curly-haired, golden retriever-like dog. She was observed crouching near the bat on the sidewalk of Hennepin Avenue, between North Washington Avenue and North 3rd Street, before placing the animal in a bag. The bat was later confirmed to be rabid after being sent for testing.

MDH has issued a plea, asking the woman to contact authorities immediately. "If this was you please call 911 and ask to be connected to Animal Care & Control," the department stated. Officials are also urging anyone who may have had physical contact with the bat to consult a physician.

Rabies is a serious concern due to its near-certain fatality rate once symptoms develop in humans. However, it is entirely preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment administered before symptoms appear. The virus affects the brain, and its incubation period can range from weeks to months. Health officials emphasized that there is no risk of rabies transmission if a person has not had direct physical contact with a bat.

This incident comes as another rabies case was confirmed in Minnesota within the past week. A cow in Brown County tested positive for the disease before its death, exposing nine people. Two domestic cats on the same property also had to be euthanized due to exposure.

The public search and the nature of the incident have led to discussions online, with some social media users drawing parallels to the origins of COVID-19 and raising questions about public education on zoonotic diseases. The MDH confirmed the flyers were official and is offering rabies assessments throughout the week for individuals who believe they may have been exposed.