Person bitten by rabid bat in Southeast Michigan, health officials say

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – A bat in Southeast Michigan has tested positive for rabies, and one person was bitten by it, health officials announced.

State health officials notified the St. Clair County Health Department that a bat found within the county has tested positive for rabies, according to a release on Oct. 10.

One person was bitten by the bat and referred for proper medical treatment.

This is the first rabid bat detected in St. Clair County in 2025.

Here’s what to know about rabies and how to protect yourself against the virus:

What is rabies, how to avoid exposure

Health officials say about 60 animals throughout the state test positive for rabies each year, and about 90% of them are bats.

Rabies is a virus that spreads through a scratch or bite from an infected animal. It’s mostly found in bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes in the U.S., according to health officials.

People should avoid having contact with bats and wild animals.

Health officials say that any contact with a bat should be treated as a possible exposure, even if there isn’t a scratch or bite that can be seen.

What to do if you’ve had contact with bat, other animal

Anyone who has had contact with a bat or other wild animal should call the St. Clair County Health Department at 810-987-5300 (option 7).

If safe to do so, people are advised to capture the bat for testing and contact St. Clair County Animal Control at 810-984-3155.

State law also requires all animal bites to be reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and animal control.

How to protect your pets

To protect your pets from contracting rabies, make sure they are up to date on their rabies vaccines and contact a veterinarian if you believe they have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, according to health officials.

For more information and to report an exposure, you can call the St. Clair County Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program at 810-987-5300 (option 7) and St. Clair County Animal Control at 810-984-3155.

You can also click here for more information about preventing rabies from the CDC.