Rabid Bats Confirmed in Dillon and Florence Counties; One Person and One Pet Exposed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 1, 2026
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that bats from Dillon and Florence counties have tested positive for rabies.
- The Dillon County bat was found near N. 24th and Coker Street in Dillon, S.C. One person was exposed and has been referred to their healthcare provider.
- The Florence County bat was found near Partridge Drive and Clarendon Avenue in Florence, S.C.
The Dillon County bat was submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing Sept. 29, 2026, and was confirmed to have rabies the same day. The Florence County bat was submitted to DPH’s laboratory for testing Sept. 29, 2026, and was confirmed to have rabies Sept. 30, 2026. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with either of these bats, or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Conway office at (843) 915-8801 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).
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. Never release a bat that has potentially exposed a person or pet. Once a bat is released, it cannot be tested for rabies.
“Rabid bats have been known to transmit the rabies virus,” said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program manager. “People don’t always realize they or a pet have been bitten since bat teeth are tiny and bites are easy to overlook.” Because of this, you should always assume a person or pet has potentially been bitten when:
- They wake up to find a bat in a room or tent;
- A bat is found where children, pets, or persons with impaired mental capacity (intoxicated or mentally disabled) have been left unattended; or
- They have been in direct contact with a bat.
“Although bats can carry rabies, not every bat is infected with the virus. Bats are an important part of South Carolina's ecosystems and deserve a healthy degree of respect just like all wild animals,” McCollister said.
You cannot tell if a bat, or any other animal, has rabies by simply looking at it. Rabies must be confirmed in a laboratory. 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. An exposure is defined as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. Be sure to immediately wash any part of your body that may have come in contact with saliva or neural tissue with plenty of soap and water and seek medical attention.
It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. In 2026, these bats were the first animals in Dillon and Florence counties to test positive for rabies. There have been 90 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive cases a year. In 2025, none of the 101 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Dillon County and four were in Florence County.
Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.
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