Source: Greenville Journal
The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed that a bat found near Oak Branch Drive and Open Range Lane in Simpsonville tested positive for rabies. One person exposed has been referred for medical care, and two cats will be quarantined per state law. Rabies, a zoonotic disease, causes about 150 cases annually in South Carolina, with roughly 30% involving human exposure. The bat was submitted for testing on Aug. 8 and confirmed positive on Aug. 11.
Officials urge anyone who may have had contact with the bat to call DPH immediately, warning that bat bites are often overlooked due to their small teeth. Guidance includes never handling bats with bare hands and safely securing any that might have exposed people or pets. This is the fourth rabies-positive animal in Greenville County in 2025, with 50 cases statewide so far. Bats, while potential rabies carriers, remain vital to the ecosystem and should be treated with caution.
Read the full story HERE: https://greenvillejournal.com/news/rabid-bat-confirmed-in-simpsonville-1-person-2-pets-exposed/