Bat Tests Positive For Rabies In Hancock County

(From Hancock Public Health)

Hancock Public Health is reporting that a local bat has tested positive for rabies. This serves as an important reminder for everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from exposure to bats.

Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States. Every year, dozens of bats are submitted and test positive for rabies across the state of Ohio. Unfortunately, you cannot tell if a bat has rabies just by looking at it, and rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

If you have been in contact with a bat, even if you are not sure if you have been bitten or scratched, please contact the health department to discuss your rabies exposure risk and whether or not treatment is recommended.

Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing. Hancock Public Health can assist in this process of sending it for testing.

If you have any pets that may have been exposed to a bat, please consult your veterinarian for further instructions.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Hancock Public Health at 419-424-7870.