by ERIN PARROTT
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The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) has confirmed two additional cases of rabies in the Palmetto State after bats found in Greenville and York counties tested positive for the deadly virus.
According to state health officials, one person was exposed to the rabid bat discovered in Greenville County and has since been referred to a healthcare provider.
The Greenville County bat was found near Bessie and North Flat Rock roads in Piedmont, S.C. — while the York County bat was discovered near Pinewood and Belleview roads in Rock Hill, S.C.
Both bats were submitted to SCDPH’s laboratory for testing on October 23, 2026, and were confirmed positive for rabies on October 26, 2026.
The latest confirmations bring South Carolina’s total number of rabid animals to 97 in 2026 – including six in Greenville County and eight in York County.
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For comparison, the state recorded 101 confirmed rabies cases in 2025, including ten in Greenville County and nine in York County. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 confirmed cases annually.
While rabies can affect numerous mammals, health officials warn that bats present a particular concern because their bites can be difficult to detect.
“Rabid bats have been known to transmit the rabies virus,” said SCDPH rabies’ program manager Terri McCollister. “People don’t always realize they or a pet have been bitten since bat teeth are tiny and bites are easy to overlook.”
According to SCDPH, potential exposure should be assumed when someone wakes up to find a bat in their room or tent, when a bat is discovered near an unattended child or pet, or when direct contact with a bat has occurred.
Officials emphasized that not all bats carry rabies, but determining whether an animal is infected requires laboratory testing.
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“Although bats can carry rabies, not every bat is infected with the virus,” McCollister said. “Bats are an important part of South Carolina’s ecosystems and deserve a healthy degree of respect just like all wild animals.”
Unusual behavior – including daytime activity, an inability to fly or appearing in unexpected locations such as homes or lawns – may indicate a bat is sick.
However, officials cautioned that rabies cannot be diagnosed based on an animal’s appearance or behavior alone.
DPH is urging residents to avoid handling bats or other wild and stray animals with their bare hands, regardless of whether the animals are alive or dead.
Any bat that may have come into contact with a person, pet or livestock should be safely contained without direct contact and should not be released before health officials can determine whether testing is necessary.
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Individuals who believe they have been exposed to rabies are encouraged to immediately wash the affected area with soap and water and seek medical attention.
Health officials also stressed the importance of keeping pets current on their rabies vaccinations, describing vaccination as one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease.
Anyone who believes they or their pets may have encountered either of the infected bats – or another potentially rabid animal — is encouraged to contact SCDPH’s Rabies Prevention Program at (888) 847-0902, Option 2.
Additional information, including local public health office contact information, is available through the state’s Rabies Contacts and Reporting webpage. For more information about rabies prevention, visit DPH’s rabies webpage.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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