The El Paso County Public Health Department (EPCPH) has announced that a bat found in Colorado Springs has tested positive for rabies, making it the first animal to test positive in the county for the disease this year.
EPCPH reports the number of animals testing positive for rabies in El Paso County by year:
- 2024: 6 (bats)
- 2023: 2 (bats)
- 2022: 4 (bats)
- 2021: 7 (3 bats, 3 skunks, 1 cat)
- 2020: 10 (5 bats, 4 skunks, 1 sheep)
- 2019: 16 (9 skunks, 5 bats, 1 fox, 1 dog)
Public health officials report that there was human contact with the bat on Saturday, August 2, resulting in the animal being sent for testing by El Paso County Public Health.
The following Tuesday, tests confirmed that the bat had rabies, and the person who made contact is being treated for rabies prevention…