Two Ohio counties are warning residents not to shrug off bats after health officials confirmed positive rabies tests this week. One infected bat was found in Coshocton County’s Franklin Township, while Highland County officials did not disclose where their bat was found.
According to Spectrum News, Coshocton Public Health Commissioner Kristina Bell said rabies is serious but there is no need for panic, adding that treatment is highly effective when sought quickly. The report said Ohio had 15 confirmed rabies cases as of June 8, all involving bats, compared with 19 confirmed bat cases statewide in 2025 and 43 in 2024.
The latest confirmations come less than a week after a bat found inside a Painesville home tested positive for rabies, as detailed in a recent Hoodline report. The cases are spread across different parts of Ohio, underscoring that bat-related rabies findings are not limited to one corner of the state.
What To Do If A Bat Gets Inside
Residents who find a bat indoors should close the room’s windows and doors, keep people and pets away, and call a professional to capture the animal, according to the health guidance cited by Spectrum News. Officials say that if professional help is unavailable, people should use extreme caution and follow local health department instructions rather than handling the bat with bare hands.
Possible exposure should be treated seriously even when nobody recalls being bitten. The Highland County Health Department notes that a bat found in a room with someone who was sleeping can require an exposure assessment, while the CDC says post-exposure treatment can include wound care, rabies immune globulin and a vaccine series.
Ohio health officials cited by Spectrum say the state sees more than 20,000 bite exposures and about 1,000 non-bite exposures each year. Coshocton residents with questions about animal bites or rabies concerns can contact the Coshocton Public Health District, while Highland County residents can call their health department at 937-393-1941.
