Bats and rabies: A public health concern
•June 17, 2026•
by Angela Hogan, R.N.,
MSPH, Administrator MCHD
Bats are a vital part of our ecosystem. They eat disease-carrying mosquitoes and crop-consuming insects. Unfortunately, bats also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Bats are the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the United States. According to the CDC, at least 7 out of 10 Americans who died from rabies in the U.S. were exposed to infected bats.
Bats are nocturnal creatures that typically avoid humans. Bats exhibiting unusual behavior, such as being active during the day, unable to fly, or easily approached, could be sick or rabid. You can’t tell whether a bat has rabies by looking at it. Avoid contact with bats, as any direct encounter could result in scratches or bites.
What should I do if I encounter a bat? In essence, any direct contact with a bat should be considered a possible rabies exposure. Infants, young children, and people with reduced mental function are at higher risk for unknown bat exposure. This is because they may not know or be able to tell others if they were bitten or scratched. Bat scratches and bites can be very small and extremely difficult to see. Regardless, these injuries can still spread rabies.