A rabid bat was found in the basement of a home in Lexington earlier this week.
City staff are posting notices in the Seven Parks/Elizabeth Street area in southeast Lexington.
Rabies can be transmitted through animal bites or contact through the eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. The World Health Organization says rabies is virtually 100% fatal once symptoms start to appear.
Steve Davis, the medical director at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, said to seek medical attention immediately if there’s a possibility of exposure. Bats in particular have small teeth, and bites may not always be visible.
“If there's ever a concern, then we want the individuals to contact the health department in their local county to be able to review the situation with the health department or contact their local doctor,” Davis said.
The health department recommends keeping pets current on their rabies vaccinations and staying away from wild animals or any animal behaving abnormally. If a bat is found in the home, do not release it into the wild and contain it before contacting your local health department.
Davis said the best way to treat or prevent rabies is by getting vaccinated.
“Our recommendation would actually be for those high risk animals… skunks, raccoons, foxes, then our recommendation would be that, and this is what I would do with my own family, would be to take the rabies vaccinations just to take no chances,” he said.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife reported 25 cases of animal rabies statewide in 2025. So far this year, four cases of animal rabies have been reported.
Lexingtonians can report potential exposures to the LFCHD’s Division of Environmental Health at 859-231-9791.
