ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Health Department said a rabid bat has been found in the county.
This is the first rabid bat found in Washtenaw County since 2022. The health department is asking everyone to report any exposures to bats and animal bites using an online form before letting the animal go.
“We were enjoying a longer stretch with no rabies-positive animals, but it’s not unusual for us to see some rabid bats in the county every year,” said Ailen Velazquez, MSc, MD, Washtenaw County Health Department epidemiology coordinator. “We often see more bat encounters in the summer and fall months, so we want to remind everyone to contact the Health Department if you find a bat in your home.”
The rabid bat was found in Ann Arbor in the 48108 zip code. As of April 29, 2024, there have been a total of six animals confirmed to have rabies. They are all bats. There was one bat in Berrien County, one in Washtenaw County, two in Wayne County, one in St. Clair County, and one in Lapeer County.
How to report bat exposure, animal bites in Washtenaw County
Bat exposures and animal bites can be reported to the Washtenaw County Health Department using an online form at survey.alchemer.com
If you need help, you can contact the health department at 734-544-6700 from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If someone has been bitten or if you need emergency help, contact an emergency department.
“Our public health staff are available to talk through each situation and determine if there was any risk of rabies exposure. This is critical because rabies is almost always fatal if not prevented with post-exposure vaccination,” Velazquez said.
Do not bring bats to the health department.
Find more rabies data for across Michigan at michigan.gov, rabies data in Washtenaw County is available at washtenaw.org.
What to do if you find a bat in your home
If you or your pets have any contact with a bat you should contact your healthcare provider.
Any direct contact with a bat should be considered a possible exposure to rabies. If you find a bat in the same room as someone that should also be considered direct contact, especially if the person was a child, sleeping, or intoxicated. Bat bites can be very small and can go unnoticed.
If someone has been exposed to a bat, do not let the bat go free. Capture the bat and contact your local health department. Your health department can set up rabies testing through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories, the only laboratory in Michigan that can test animals for rabies.
If the bat is unavailable for testing, the exposed person may have to undergo treatment. If the bat can be tested and is found not to have rabies, then treatment is not needed.
How to protect yourself, your pets from rabies
You should visit your veterinarian on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.
Even if an animal is kept inside, keeping their vaccination against rabies up-to-date is important in case they are ever exposed to a stray animal carrying the disease.
Michigan law requires ferrets and dogs to be currently vaccinated against rabies.
If you are exposed to a wild animal, you should wash all bites or scratches immediately with soap and water.
If you think you or your animal may have had contact with rabid wildlife, you should immediately contact your veterinarian or MDARD at 800-292-3939 to determine the next steps.
What are the symptoms of rabies in a person?
The early symptoms of rabies in people may include fever, headache, general weakness, and discomfort.
People may also feel a prickling or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. The symptoms can last for days.
Over time, neurological symptoms may appear. Those can include difficulty sleeping, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, partial paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and the fear of water.
Once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly always deadly.
What are the symptoms of rabies in an animal?
Animals with rabies may behave strangely or in unexpected ways.
The early symptoms include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
The later symptoms include weakness, difficulty walking, paralysis, seizures, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, abnormal behavior, and aggression.
What is the treatment for rabies?
To prevent rabies in a person that has potentially been exposed, the person undergoes a series of injections called Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis.
People who have never received rabies vaccinations in the past must receive both the rabies antibody (rabies immune globulin, or HRIG) and the vaccine. People who have already been vaccinated will only need the rabies vaccine.
Once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly always fatal. At that point, treatment is only supportive.
The state of Michigan has more information about rabies available online.