SHAWANO, WI- For the first time since 2021, Shawano County has a bat that has tested positive for rabies. Nick Mau with the Shawano Menominee County Health Department says they are making it known due to the positive test result. Mau said the bat was in Shawano County, but the exact location is not being disclosed. “Wisconsin is always seeing rabid bats, s we are not the only county, but this is the first of the year for us.”
In this case, the bat had exposure with both humans and animals. “Anytime someone has an exposure or a presumed exposure to a bat, we follow up with that and get it tested with the state lab.”
Mau says while bat exposures are common, they don’t get reported cubically unless the bat tests positive. To do that, people need to say something when having exposure to a bat.
“We need to make sure that the people who experienced the exposure are getting the treatment that they need, but we also need to make the community aware so that they properly vaccinate their pets or be aware if they are exposed to a bat in a house or a barn.”
Mau says often the bites are so small, so when in doubt bring the bat in to get tested. “You can assume that pretty much any wild bat has rabies.”
Mau said that they have not had a rabid bat in Shawano County since 2021.
Mau said most importantly, people should make sure that their pets are up to date with rabies vaccines and people should not try to touch or pick up a bat that they locate.
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