The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed that a bat found near Greene Street and Gregg Street in Columbia, S.C., has tested positive for rabies.

No people or pets are known to have been exposed at this time.

The bat was submitted to DHEC's laboratory for testing on Nov. 30 and was confirmed to have rabies on Dec. 1.

Never handle a bat or any wild or stray animal, alive or dead, with your bare hands.

Any bat that could have had potential contact with people, pets, or livestock should be safely trapped in a sealed container and not touched.

Once a bat is released, it cannot be tested for rabies. Never release a bat that has potentially exposed a person or pet.

Unusual behavior in bats that might indicate the animal has rabies includes daytime activity, inability to fly, and being found in places they are not usually seen, like in your home or on your lawn.

Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 148 positive cases a year. In 2021, 11 of the 101 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Richland County.