Bat removed from Kappa Delta sorority house; inspections to be done before spring semester begins

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Sources: Scott Jones, 785-532-5546; Dr. Robert Tackett, 785-532-6544
Web: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/bats_&_rabies/bats&.htm
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu

Friday, January 5, 2007

BAT REMOVED FROM KAPPA DELTA SORORITY HOUSE; INSPECTIONS TO BE DONE BEFORE SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS

MANHATTAN -- Spring semester begins Thursday, Jan. 11, at Kansas State University. Students are moving back to their residences, both on-campus and off.

But before residents of the off-campus Kappa Delta sorority house are allowed to return, the Kappa Delta House Corporation has hired pest control experts to be sure that no unwanted inhabitants are inside the property at 1220 Centennial Drive.

Last semester, during finals week, a member of Kappa Delta spotted a bat in one of the sorority's sleeping dorms. The sighting was between 7-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. Within an hour, a Manhattan pest control company arrived and removed the bat. Now the Kappa Delta House Corporation plans to have the building checked again to be sure that any possible openings are sealed.

K-State's office of Greek Affairs and the Lafene Student Health Center were notified of the incident Dec. 28, and Lafene's medical director, Dr. Robert Tackett, requested contact information for the 17 women who slept in the sleeping dorm. He began contacting students Dec. 29, suggesting they may want to consider getting rabies vaccinations. Since the bat was not tested, it is not known whether or not the bat carried rabies, but Tackett wanted to contact sorority members as a precautionary measure.

Scott Jones, director of K-State's Greek Affairs office, said the number of women in the sleeping dorm represent one fourth of the 64 members who live at the property, which is owned by the Kappa Delta House Corporation. Members who live in other areas of the house are not at risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, rabies is transmitted when a person is bitten by an infected animal or, in rare cases, when saliva from an infected animal gets directly into a person's nose, mouth, eyes or an open wound. The CDC also states that people cannot get rabies from contact with bat guano, blood, urine or from touching a bat on its fur.

"Bats found in sleeping areas should be tested," Tackett said.