WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A bat caught in Polk County tested positive for rabies, making it the first such case in the county this year.
The sheriff's office said Thursday a Brazilian free-tailed bat was found in a north Lakeland business. No people or other animals came in contact with the bat, county spokesperson Brian Bruchey said.
Following a test at a state lab in Tampa, authorities were told the bat was infected with the deadly disease.
Rabies infects the central nervous system if a person is bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Without immediate medical attention, death can occur.
The county had three known cases of rabies in 2023, officials said.
"Make sure your pets are vaccinated, and always use caution when confronted by animals that appear sick, aggressive, or in distress," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "If you should encounter an animal that you believe could be infected by rabies, contact Animal Control immediately, and do not attempt to handle the animal yourself."
People can contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 863-298-6200.
