Horror as hundreds of students are forced to evacuate university dorm to escape rabies-infected bats
Hundreds of Arizona college students are being forced to evacuate their dorms after the building was overtaken by rabies-infected bats just weeks before Halloween.
Hundreds of Arizona college students are being forced to evacuate their dorms after the building was overtaken by rabies-infected bats just weeks before Halloween.
Around 500 Northern Arizona University (NAU) students who live in Mountain View Hall - which primarily houses freshmen and sophomores - were told to pack up their bags out Friday and Saturday, according to AZ Family.
At least five bats have been seen flying around the dorm in the last five days and one was even caught sleeping on the ceiling as mitigation efforts have failed to get the pesky creatures out.
One bat that was tested in September came back positive for rabies, according to the Coconino County Health and Human Services.
In close consultation with Coconino County Health and Human Services, NAU issued guidance to residents on health and safety and initiated mitigation protocols throughout the building supported by a pest control contractor, the school said in a statement to AZ Family.
Around 500 Northern Arizona University (NAU) students who live in Mountain View Hall - which primarily houses freshmen and sophomores - were told to pack up their bags out Friday and Saturday due to a bat infestation
One video, shared to Instagram , showed hundreds of bats circling the buildings roof
One bat that was tested in September came back positive for rabies, according to the Coconino County Health and Human Services
One video, shared to Instagram, showed hundreds of bats circling the buildings roof.
No injuries have been reported, but some students have been given a rabies shot as a precaution, according to AZ Family.
Students will moved to nearby accommodations.
Based on further consultation with CCHHS, we have determined that to best provide for the health, wellbeing, and academic success of our students all residents will be relocated from Mountain View to other nearby apartments, the school told AZ Family.
This supports our students and will allow for comprehensive and permanent bat mitigation efforts to take place in the building.
Students said a few hundred bats climbed out of the walls.
I just heard squeaking come from the walls, one unidentified student said. I was like oh no, she said, dragging out the last two words.
Students said the school sent the students an email telling them what to do if they come across an infected bat.
Heres what you do if you encounter a bat with rabies, and its like hmm, how about I dont encounter the bat with rabies, the girls roommate told AZ Family.
Some of the advice given to students was to shake out all of our clothing, move items around in our rooms, look under every corner, every desk, anything we can find; pat our pillow and sheets down.
The male students said: That was the email that made me want to move out.
Despite the fear of illness, one student. Jake Fagone, had fun with the situation and dressed up in a bat Halloween costume and walked around the dorm.
Around 70 percent of Americans who have died from rabies were infected by a bat, according to the CDC.
Rabies has a high death rate, if contracted, but it is rare to catch the infection in the US, with fewer than 10 deaths a year.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100 percent fatal, according to WHO.
The disease is spread through bites, scratches, and direct contact with eyes, mouth, or open wounds, WHO said.
