A bat from Goshen Township has tested positive for rabies. The incident is isolated, and there is no threat to the public.

The bat was found in a rural barn, and Clermont County Public Health was contacted for testing. An Ohio Department of Health (ODH) laboratory tested the bat for disease.

The rabies virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal and affects the central nervous system. Once infected, the virus will almost always cause death. However, human rabies cases in the U.S. are extremely rare because of pet vaccinations and anti-rabies treatment. Ohio’s last human rabies case was in 1970, per ODH.

If a bat is found in your home, careful evaluation for possible exposure should be done. Because a bat bite may be so small that it could go undetected, rabies treatment should be considered if the bat was found in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended child who is not able to describe what happened, or a room with an individual under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with other sensory or mental impairment. Contact your local health department if you believe you have been exposed to the rabies virus.

Clermont County Public Health encourages all pet owners to vaccinate their pets annually, including anti-rabies treatment.

For more information, please visit https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program/diseases/rabies