Rabid Bat Exposes 3 People and 1 Cat in Richland County

6 articles · Updated · Abccolumbia.com · May 20

South Carolina health officials confirmed a bat found near Lincoln and Aiken streets in Columbia had rabies, after the animal was submitted for testing on May 18 and confirmed positive on May 19.
Three people were exposed and referred to healthcare providers, while one cat was exposed and will be quarantined under the state's Rabies Control Act.
SCDPH urged anyone who may have contacted this bat or another potentially rabid animal to call its 24-hour rabies reporting line at 888-847-0902.
Health officials said bat bites can be easy to miss because their teeth are tiny, and warned people not to handle, release or discard bats that may have exposed people or pets because testing is critical.

Since a rabid bat's bite can be invisible, what are the hidden signs of exposure everyone must know?

Why have bats surpassed dogs as the leading rabies threat in the Americas, and is our public health response keeping pace?