The Tuscarawas County Health Department is reporting a confirmed case of rabies in a bat found in Dennison.
Officials were notified April 24th by the Ohio Department of Health—marking the county’s first rabies case in several years.
Community Relations Director Jennifer Demuth says no human or animal exposures have been reported, but a pet that alerted a resident to the bat is being monitored as a precaution.
Rabies is a deadly virus affecting the brain and spinal cord, most commonly spread through bites from infected wildlife like bats, skunks, and raccoons.
The Health Department urges residents to seek medical care if exposure is suspected and warns that bat bites can be difficult to detect, especially indoors.
Residents are reminded to keep pets vaccinated and report unusual animal behavior to authorities.