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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – A bat found in Muskegon County has tested positive for rabies, health officials said.
It’s the first bat to test positive in Muskegon County in 2024, Public Health – Muskegon County announced on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals most commonly transmitted by a rabid animal bite. Most reported cases occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
The virus infects the central nervous system resulting in disease within the brain and then death. In people, the symptoms initially include fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort.
As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe including insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, increase in saliva, difficulty swallowing, and fear of water.
Individuals can reduce the risk of exposure to a rabid bat by avoiding picking up or touching bats, keeping rabies vaccinations up to date for pets, and bat-proofing the home, health officials said.
Most people won’t have contact with a rabid bat, but any direct contact with a bat should be considered a potential rabies exposure. Bat bites are not always visible.
Scenarios that may lead to rabies exposure include:
• A person is bitten by a bat or comes in contact with its saliva or brain tissue.
• A person awakens to find a bat in the room with them.
• A bat is in a room with an unattended child.
• A bat is in a room with a person who is mentally disabled or intoxicated.
Health officials say it’s important to safely collect the bat and consult with our staff at the health department to determine if it should be tested for rabies. The test results of the bat help determine if post exposure treatment is necessary.
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