WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — A bat that was collected earlier this month from a Webster Groves home tested positive for rabies, according to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health.

This is the first bat to test positive in St. Louis County this year, a press release states.

As bat activity happens throughout the county, officials say the potential for bats with rabies is not limited to any specific region.

“While the risk to the public remains low, a bat testing positive for rabies is an important reminder of the need to avoid contact with wild animals and to ensure that pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations,” said Dr. Kanika Cunningham, director of Saint Louis County Department of Public Health.

“Rabies is a preventable but serious disease. If you or your pet may have come in contact with a bat or any potentially rabid animal, it’s critical to contact DPH, your health care provider or veterinarian right away.”

Health officials warn residents to be cautious around wildlife and know the steps to take if they encounter a bat in their home.

Below are steps to take if residents find bats in their home, as stated in the press release:

• Do not attempt to capture a live bat. Instead, confine it to the room where it was discovered.
• Never release a bat found in a home if it was present where people were sleeping or if it was in a room with anyone who cannot describe the nature and extent of their exposure.
• St. Louis County residents should call DPH Animal Care and Control immediately so animal control officers can collect the bat for possible rabies testing. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, bats can be removed from inside a home at any time of the year, including during breeding season.
• If you think you may have been exposed to a bat, Saint Louis County residents can call DPH communicable disease investigators (314-615-1630) to discuss the possible need for rabies vaccine.

For information about rabies, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.