Rabid Bat Found in St. Joseph After Puppy Picks Up Dead Animal

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The St. Joseph Health Department is alerting residents after a bat found in the northeastern part of the city tested positive for rabies following an encounter with a young puppy.

According to health officials, the incident occurred on October 15, when a puppy discovered a dead bat in a residential yard and picked it up in its mouth.

The bat was submitted to the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory for testing on October 19. The health department received confirmation on October 20 that the animal was infected with the rabies virus.

Officials say there is currently no indication that any humans were exposed.

However, the puppy had not received its rabies vaccination because it was younger than the recommended vaccination age.

The St. Joseph Health Department is working with the puppy's owners to determine appropriate quarantine and observation measures.

How Common Is Rabies in St. Joseph?

Although the discovery raises concerns about possible exposure to rabies, local health officials emphasize that a single positive test does not necessarily mean rabies activity is increasing in the community.

According to the health department, approximately 1% to 2% of animal specimens submitted for rabies testing in Missouri each year return positive results.

Bats and skunks are among the animals most frequently associated with confirmed rabies cases.

Local bat testing records from the past five years show:

Year	Bats Tested	Positive Results
2022	22	1
2023	13	0
2024	25	1
2025	34	1
2026*	38	0

The 2026 figures do not include the most recent positive bat, bringing the reported total to at least one positive result this year.

Health officials stress that these numbers represent animals submitted for testing and do not necessarily reflect the prevalence of rabies among all bats in the area.

CDC Reports Increased Rabies Exposures Nationwide

The discovery comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about increases in reported human exposure to rabid or potentially rabid animals across multiple parts of the United States.

According to the CDC advisory referenced by local health officials, several jurisdictions began reporting increased exposures in July.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and can infect mammals, including humans, dogs, cats and wildlife.

The virus is generally transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, most commonly through bites. Exposure may also occur when infected saliva contacts broken skin or mucous membranes.

Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal. However, prompt medical treatment after an exposure can prevent the infection from developing.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting for symptoms.

How Residents Can Protect Themselves and Their Pets

The St. Joseph Health Department is encouraging residents to take several precautions to reduce the risk of rabies exposure:

• Avoid contact with wildlife. Never touch or handle bats, skunks or other wild animals, even if they appear injured or dead.

• Keep pets vaccinated. Make sure dogs and cats receive rabies vaccinations as soon as they reach the appropriate age and remain current on required boosters.

• Supervise pets outdoors. Keep animals from roaming freely or approaching wildlife.

• Report unusual animal behavior. Contact St. Joseph Animal Services if an animal appears disoriented, unusually aggressive or otherwise behaves strangely.

• Report potential exposures. If a pet encounters a bat or other potentially rabid animal, contact Animal Services immediately for instructions. Anyone who may have had direct exposure should also consult a healthcare provider.

• Protect your home. Seal openings around roofs, attics and other areas where bats could enter.

Residents should not attempt to capture or handle potentially rabid wildlife themselves.

What Should You Do If You Find a Bat?

Finding a bat near your home does not automatically mean it is infected with rabies.

However, because infected bats may not display obvious symptoms, residents should avoid direct contact.

If a bat is discovered inside a home, particularly in a room where someone was sleeping or where a young child was present, public health officials should be contacted to evaluate whether an exposure may have occurred.

Residents should also seek guidance before releasing a bat if there is a possibility of human or pet exposure, since testing may be necessary.

Who to Contact

Anyone with questions about rabies, suspicious wildlife or possible animal exposures can contact St. Joseph Animal Services at 816-271-4877.

Statewide rabies testing information is available through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Rabies Testing Dashboard.

The dashboard is updated weekly and provides information about rabies testing across Missouri.

For now, health officials say there is no evidence that this isolated incident represents a larger outbreak in St. Joseph, but they encourage residents to remain vigilant and keep their pets protected.