Rabid Bat Bites Person in Michigan, Health Warning Issued

A person in St. Clair County is being treated after being bitten by a rabid bat.

MLive reports the bat tested positive for rabies after being sent to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for testing.

Why Experts Make a Big Deal Out of Rabies

Rabies is no joke; it’s a nasty viral disease that attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal if not treated quickly. Once symptoms start showing, it can cause confusion, hallucinations, paralysis, and eventually death.

Most cases in Michigan come from wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. On average, about 60 animals test positive for rabies in Michigan every year, and roughly 90% of those are bats.

Health officials say the best way to avoid trouble is simple: don’t mess with wild animals, make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shots, and bat-proof your home if possible. Even if you don’t see a bite or scratch, any direct contact with a bat should be taken seriously.

Don’t get me wrong, bats are vital for controlling insects in agricultural crops, you just don’t want them getting into your home.

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If you or someone you know ends up coming into contact with a bat or any animal acting strangely, don’t blow it off. Get checked out right away and let your local health department know what happened. If you can safely trap the animal without putting yourself at risk, hang onto it for testing and reach out to animal control in your area for what to do next.