(CALHOUN COUNTY) - Health officials have confirmed the first rabies-positive bat of the year in Calhoun County.
The Calhoun County Public Health Department says the bat tested positive, marking the first confirmed case in the county this year.
Officials say bats are the most common carrier of rabies in Michigan, and exposures are not always obvious.
They warn that bats found inside homes--especially in sleeping areas--can pose a potential exposure risk even if no bite or scratch is seen.
Anyone who comes into contact with a bat is urged to safely capture it for testing and contact the Calhoun County Public Health Department at (269) 969-6341 during business hours. After hours, residents should contact their primary care provider.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease that can spread to people and pets through bites or scratches from infected animals.