GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A bat found inside a residence in Northern Michigan has tested positive for rabies.

The Grand Traverse County Health Department confirmed the news on Monday, noting that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tested the bat after possible human exposure.

All individuals identified as exposed are receiving the necessary post-exposure medical care, officials said.

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, typically through a bite or scratch.

Bats are the most common carrier of rabies in Michigan with 33 positive cases confirmed as of Sept. 18. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, but it is preventable with prompt m

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