LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A deceased bat found in Louisville tested positive for rabies.

The bat was found outside a home in Okolona, in the 40219 zip code, according to a news release Friday from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. 

Health officials are now reminding residents that people can get rabies from bats through a bite or from its saliva. 

"We assume that every bat could have rabies because that's the only way to prevent a human from getting rabies, is to express the highest amount of caution if you have a bat in your home," says LMPHW Environmental Health Manager Ciara Warren.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to rabid bats is the leading cause of rabies in humans in the United States.

"Transmission of rabies can occur through a bat's bite or the animal's saliva if it gets in a person's eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound," Connie Mendel, Louisville's chief health strategist, said in a news release Friday.

Mendel said sometimes people may not even know they've been bitten.

Nearly two dozen bats have tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County since 2019. Data from the Public Health and Wellness Lab shows that, since 2019, at least 21 bats have tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County:

  • 2019: 4 bats 
  • 2020: 2 (1 bat, 1 dog) 
  • 2021: 7 bats 
  • 2022: 3 bats 
  • 2023: 2 bats 
  • 2024: 4 bats

Some Jefferson County residents said they were shocked to hear the news.

"I want to use the word gross, but I would just say astounding to think that something like that is in the area that can be unhealthy to our communities and to the people," says Monte El.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, and without appropriate medical care it can cause disease in the brain, which can result in death. Preventative care after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine series.

Treatment is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures. Once rabies symptoms begin, there is no treatment, in which case the disease is always fatal. 

Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, avoiding wildlife, and seeking medical care immediately if you think you've been you've been bitten or in contact with an animal with rabies. 

"Rabies is usually fatal in humans so that is the last thing we want. We just want people to know this is the busy time in the summer where you're going to have bats out and about and just to stay away from them," said Warren.

 If you encounter a bat in your home:

  • If possible, close the door to isolate the bat in the room.
  • Contact your doctor and LMPHW at 502-574-6650 right away. The health department will arrange for the bat to be collected and tested for rabies.
  • If you know you have been bitten or scratched by a bat:
    • Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
    • If the bat tests negative for rabies, you will not need postexposure treatment.
  • If you do not know how the bat got into your home, you will also need to contact a bat remediation specialist to determine if bats are living in your home.

If your pet encounters a bat:

  • Contact LMPHW at 502-574-6650 or email publicfacilities@louisvilleky.gov. Your pet may need to be quarantined to ensure rabies is not transmitted. Please advise the health department if you choose to have your pet quarantined at another location besides your home.
  • If your pet bites or scratches someone during a rabies exposure quarantine, you must report the incident to 

If you have general questions regarding bats or rabies, contact the LMPHW Rabies Prevention Program at 502-574-6640 or click here.

If you do find a bat in your home, experts say you should stay away from it and contact the health department.

If you get bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention immediately.

The CDC said exposure to rabid bats is the leading cause of rabies in humans.

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