Charleston, South Carolina – South Carolina health officials are urging residents to be cautious around wild animals after two separate rabies cases were confirmed in Charleston and Richland counties, involving a raccoon and a bat.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health said the animals were submitted to its laboratory for testing on May 18, 2026. Both were confirmed positive for rabies the next day, May 19.
In Charleston County, the case involved a raccoon found near Chisholm Road and Srevir Street in Johns Island. No human exposures are known at this time, according to DPH, but one dog was exposed and will be quarantined under the Rabies Control Act.
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In Richland County, a bat was found near Lincoln and Aiken streets in Columbia. Three people were exposed and have been referred to their healthcare providers. One cat was also exposed and will be quarantined under the Rabies Control Act.
Anyone who believes they, someone they know, or their pets may have come in contact with the raccoon, the bat, or another animal that could have rabies should call DPH’s 24-hour rabies reporting line at (888) 847-0902 and select Option 2.
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Officials stressed that bats and wild or stray animals should never be handled with bare hands, whether alive or dead. A bat that may have had contact with people, pets, or livestock should be safely trapped in a sealed container without being touched. It should not be released, because once a bat is gone, 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.”
DPH said possible exposure should be assumed when someone wakes up and finds a bat in a room or tent, when a bat is found near unattended children, pets, or people with impaired mental capacity, or when there has been direct contact with a bat.
McCollister also noted that not all bats carry rabies. “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,” she said.
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Rabies cannot be confirmed by appearance alone and must be tested in a laboratory. Warning signs in bats may include daytime activity, inability to fly, or being found inside homes or on lawns.
DPH also reminded residents to keep pets current on rabies vaccinations, one of the simplest ways to prevent the disease. So far in 2026, South Carolina has reported 36 rabid animals statewide. More information is available at dph.sc.gov/rabies, dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts, and cdc.gov/rabies.
