DeKalb County has now confirmed four rabies cases in 2026 after a second bat this summer tested positive for the virus. Animal control officials are urging pet owners across the county to check their animals' vaccination status.
DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement confirmed on Tuesday, July 21, that a dead bat found near Columbia Drive and York Place in south DeKalb tested positive for rabies, The Champion Newspaper reported. Earlier in July, another dead bat near Millstone Trail in a Stone Mountain neighborhood also tested positive.
Both bats were found dead.
Countywide risk
Bats are the leading source of rabies in the United States, according to the CDC, and their teeth are so small that a bite or scratch can go unnoticed. That makes any encounter with a bat a potential exposure, even if no wound is visible.
Georgia is a rabies-endemic state, meaning the virus circulates year-round, DCAES officials said. Four confirmed cases in roughly seven months is not unusual for the county, officials added, but the agency urged residents to take precautions during summer months when outdoor activity increases.
Dunwoody and Brookhaven fall under the same DeKalb County Animal Services jurisdiction, and the same vaccination requirements and reporting procedures apply countywide.
As we reported July 22, West Nile virus was also detected in DeKalb County mosquito traps for the first time this year, adding to summer wildlife health concerns for residents spending time outdoors.
What to watch for
The American Veterinary Medical Association lists these signs of rabies in animals: fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis, and seizures. Rabid animals may also become uncharacteristically affectionate, and wild animals that are normally nocturnal may appear during daylight hours.
There is no treatment once clinical signs appear, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. However, post-exposure vaccines can provide immunity when administered soon after contact and before symptoms develop, according to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
What DCAES wants residents to do
- Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations through a veterinarian.
- Register the rabies tag with DeKalb County Animal Control every year, as required by county law.
- Eliminate outdoor feeding stations and secure garbage cans.
- Never touch a bat, alive or dead.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you come into contact with a bat or any wild animal showing unusual behavior.
- Watch pets for unusual behavior and contact animal control if anything seems off.
To report an animal bite or get more information, residents can call DeKalb County Animal Control at 404-294-2996, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 404-294-2519 after hours.
