Officials urge caution after rabid bat found in Buda

Hays County Local Health Department staff have confirmed a slight increase in the number of animals that have tested postive for rabies this year.

A dead bat  found on the ground in the 500 block of Faircrest Drive in Buda around 8 p.m. Oct. 23 was tested by the State Department of State Health Services and found to be positive for rabies, making it the 25th confirmed case in 2017.

“While you will notice that we are seeing a couple more cases than we have the past two years, it is not a significant increase,” said Eric Schneider, Epidemiologist for Hays County Health Department. “Also understand that if a bat is determined to be untestable due to decomposition of its body, it will be presumed positive, which can lead to inflated numbers.”