A dead bat found along Terry Mill Road in DeKalb County tested positive for rabies on Friday, Aug. 21, county officials confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 25, in a news release.
It is the fifth confirmed rabies case in DeKalb this year.
Officials said it is unclear whether any people or pets came into contact with the infected bat. Georgia is a rabies-endemic state, meaning the virus circulates in wildlife year-round, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
The case hits close to home for Dunwoody residents. In March 2025, a raccoon collected near Redfield Drive in Dunwoody tested positive for rabies, according to DeKalb County Animal Services. Other 2026 cases include a raccoon near Brannen Road in January, a stray cat in Lithonia in May, and two bats in the Stone Mountain and South DeKalb areas in June and July.
What residents should do
DeKalb County requires pet owners to vaccinate their animals for rabies every year and register rabies tags with the county. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians warns that unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal face a four-month quarantine, according to CBS News Atlanta.
County officials also advise residents to eliminate outdoor pet feeding stations and keep garbage cans tightly sealed to avoid attracting wildlife. DeKalb County Animal Control will set traps only if a person or pet has been bitten or scratched.
Anyone bitten or scratched by a wild or unknown animal should seek medical care immediately, officials said. After treatment, residents can contact the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale District Public Health office at 770-339-4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist.
Rabies is always fatal once symptoms develop, but the disease is preventable if medical care is sought soon after exposure, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
How to report
DeKalb County Animal Control, located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Chamblee, takes calls Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the county's Aug. 25 news release. The number is 404-294-2996, extension 2. The after-hours emergency line is 404-294-2519.
The Georgia Poison Center offers 24/7 rabies consultation at 404-616-9000 in Atlanta or 800-282-5846 statewide.
