The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) was notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that a bat found in St. Clair County has tested positive for rabies.
This is the second rabies positive bat found in Michigan in 2024. Though rabies is a fatal disease, it is a preventable one. Though the state only reports about 40 positive cases of rabies in bats each year, bats are still considered the most common carrier of the disease in Michigan.
As rabies can be spread to people and pets if bitten or scratched, people and domestic animals should avoid contact with bats, and treat any direct contact with a bat as a possible exposure to rabies.
Bailee Danneels, Communicable Disease Nurse Coordinator at the St. Clair County Health Department, urges county residents to call the health department as soon as possible after a run-in with a bat, as state law requires all animal bites to be reported to the local health department and animal control offices. The St. Clair County Health Department’s number is (810) 987-5300, with callers reporting bites told to select (option 7) on the call menu.
Danneels also noted that if someone may have been exposed to a bat, do not let the bat go,as it will need to be tested for rabies. After safely capturing the animal, immediately contact your local animal control.
Authorities urge residents to keep their pets’ rabies vaccination up to date. Be aware that in spring time, it is not uncommon to see wildlife, like bats, during the day and evening as they care for their young. If a pet may have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, contact your veterinarian for instructions on next steps.
