Rabid bat turns up in Springfield

Health officials said a rabid bat was found in Springfield, the first in Clark County since 2016, according to the Clark County Combined Health District.

The bat was found in the Ridgewood neighborhood in Springfield within the last week.

Bats are the most common carriers of the rabies virus, but other animals can also be carriers of the disease, officials with the health district said in a press release.

“The presence of one affected animal in the area means that local residents should be concerned about the possibility of more and take the proper precautions,” officials said in the release.

The discovery of the infected bat comes one week after a bat found dead in Xenia tested positive for rabies. A danger of bats is that their bites can be difficult to detect because their teeth are small.

“Their teeth are so tiny. They leave the tiniest little marks,” said Larry Shaffer, director of environmental health for the district, “That’s why if you wake up and there’s a bat flying around your house, you should be concerned and have that bat tested for rabies.”

Bats have been the only animal to test positive for rabies in Clark County since 2005, according to health officials.

Health officials urge anyone who thinks they’ve been exposed to rabies from a bat to seek immediate medical attention. The health district said all pets should also be vaccinated for rabies.

Residents are also encouraged to capture bats in their home, either by themselves or professionally, and take them to the health district to be tested.

“If you do not feel that you can capture the bat, please contact either a wildlife specialist or the CCCHD. The CCCHD can only test bats that have had a potential exposure to humans and pets,” the release said.

The health district said five additional bats were tested and results came back negative.