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.
One individual who was bitten by the bat has been identified and referred for appropriate medical treatment.
Each year, approximately 60 animals in Michigan test positive for rabies—about 90% of those are bats.Rabies is a deadly but preventable virus that spreads through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. In the U.S., it is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
To avoid exposure, avoid contact with bats and other wild animals. Any direct contact with a bat should be treated as a potential exposure, even if there is no visible bite or scratch. If you’ve had contact with a bat or a suspect animal, contact your county’s health department immediately. Do not release the bat. If safe to do so, capture the bat for testing and contact the county’s Animal Control. All animal bites must be reported to the Health Department and Animal Control, as required by state law.
To protect pets, ensure that they are up to date on their rabies vaccination. If your pet may have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, contact your veterinarian immediately for guidance.
For information regarding rabies or to report a potential exposure, contact the St. Clair County Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program at (810) 987-5300 (option 7), and St. Clair County Animal Control at (810) 984-3155.
