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By Sarah Ladd

Kentucky Lantern

 

The Louisville health department says a bat found in the East End was positive for rabies, a rare but deadly viral disease. 

This is the first rabies case in Jefferson County this year, Ciara Warren, environmental health manager at the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW), said Thursday. 

“It is quite rare, but it is always a possibility,” she said.

The bat, found in the 40207 ZIP Code on a homeowner’s porch, is now dead after euthanasia and testing. The homeowner covered the bat and called the health department, and she was not exposed to rabies. 

In 2023, Jefferson County had two rabies-positive bats, according to the health department. Previous year totals are: 

• 2019 – 4 bats 
• 2020 – 2 (1 bat, 1 dog) 
• 2021 – 7 bats 
• 2022 – 3 bats 

The health department does not know where the 2024 bat could have contracted rabies, Warren said. Rabies typically spreads through blood or saliva. 

 

How to stay safe if you come across a bat 

Health department staff said if you come across a bat, the safest thing is to assume the bat has rabies, and do not touch it. 

Instead, cover the bat with something, if possible. Then, call the health department at 502-574-6650 and ask for someone with the rabies prevention program for further help and instructions.  

“Bat teeth are very tiny, so most of the time, you do not know if you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat,” Warren said. “Sometimes bats, if they do have rabies, and maybe are further along since they’ve contracted it, they might be showing some signs, maybe swooping kind of low, laying on the ground. They might look a little bit sick. You might think that they have rabies, but the safest thing to do is just avoid it, and do not touch any bat.”