GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) and Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) have confirmed the first rabies-positive animal of the year in the county: a bat.
Officials are calling on residents to take precautions, noting that rabies is a deadly but preventable disease transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals.
“During the fall, bats start looking for safe places to roost for the winter, which can sometimes lead them into homes or businesses,” Cathy Armstrong, Communicable Disease Program Supervisor, said. “If it’s unclear whether a person or pet may have had direct contact with a bat, testing the bat is the best way to rule out any risk of rabies exposure. Because bats have very small teeth, a bite may not always be obvious in situations such as when someone was sleeping.”…