ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The St. Louis County Department of Public Health sent a warning to residents Wednesday morning after officials recently found two bats that tested positive for rabies.
The first bat was collected at a Ballwin residence by health department officials on June 15, a press release from the department said. The second bat was collected from a Maplewood residence on June 23. The pair are the first bats to test positive for rabies in the county this year.
The county usually sees around five rabid animals every year, all of them bats, officials told 5 On Your Side. The first bat found with rabies usually happens in April or May.
Missouri usually sees 25 rabid animals yearly, 73% of which are bats and 21% of which are skunks, the department said.
"Most healthy bats are not infected with rabies (only <1% to 3%), but the prevalence is higher in bats that are exhibiting atypical behavior (e.g., being active during the daytime, flying erratically, or flopping on the ground)," the county's press release said.
Most bats that live in the St. Louis County area have small, needle-like teeth, making bites difficult to feel, county officials said. Avoiding direct contact with wildlife or any animal behaving strangely is recommended.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, the department said. Infection can be prevented before symptoms begin through a rabies vaccine.
If a bat is seen, residents should immediately call the county's animal control at 314-615-0650 during business hours or 636-529-8210 after business hours.
"If you think you may have been exposed to a bat, Saint Louis County residents can call DPH communicable disease investigators (314-615-1630) to discuss the possible need for rabies vaccine," the press release said.
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