LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. – A bat found in Livingston County has tested positive for rabies, marking the county’s first reported animal case of the year, according to the Livingston County Health Department.
Health officials are reminding residents to take precautions if they encounter a bat, particularly because bat bites can be small and difficult to detect.
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Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
However, treatment can prevent it if started before symptoms develop.
Health officials recommend capturing a bat found in a home so it can be tested for rabies.
Residents should avoid direct contact with the animal and contact the health department for guidance.
Potential exposure can occur if a person is bitten or comes into contact with a bat’s saliva or brain tissue.
Health officials said people may also need to be evaluated if they wake up to find a bat in their bedroom or if a bat is found in a room with a child who was alone, or someone who is mentally disabled or intoxicated.
Residents who believe they may have been exposed can report bat contact or an animal bite through the Livingston County Health Department’s secure online reporting system.
They can also call the department at 517-552-6882 and leave a message for staff to return the call.
Residents should wash any animal bite or scratch with soap and water and seek medical attention.
Health officials recommend keeping windows and doors screened, sealing openings around the home, and keeping cats, dogs, and ferrets current on their rabies vaccinations.
Bats can enter through openings as small as a dime, according to the health department.
The health department said residents should contact officials for guidance if they are unsure whether they have been exposed to rabies.