Rabies case confirmed in Chesterfield County

The South Carolina Department of Public Health has confirmed a bat found in Cheraw has tested positive for rabies.
A bat tested positive for rabies after being discovered near Chathan Trace Circle and Manor Road in Cheraw. Two individuals were exposed and have been referred to their healthcare providers for evaluation and treatment.
Officials said the bat was submitted to DPH’s laboratory for testing on Sept. 2 and was confirmed to have rabies on Sept. 3.
If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with either skunks, this bat, or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH’s 24-hour rabies reporting line at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).
“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.”
Because of this, you should always assume a person or pet has potentially been bitten when they wake up to find a bat in a room; a bat is found where children, pets, or persons with impaired mental capacity (intoxicated or mentally disabled) have been left unattended; or they have been in direct contact with a bat.
“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,” said McCollister.
So far in 2025, South Carolina has reported 63 rabid animals statewide. The bat is the first confirmed rabies case in the county for 2025.
Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 144 positive cases a year. In 2024, one of the 81 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina was in Chesterfield County.