By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Rabies is drawing renewed attention across North Alabama after laboratory-confirmed cases were identified this year in both Madison and Morgan counties.
According to reporting by WAFF 48, a rabid bat was confirmed in Madison County, while a raccoon tested positive in Morgan County. Those cases are part of at least four confirmed rabies cases reported in North Alabama in 2026, including additional cases involving bats in Cullman and Colbert counties.
Statewide, Alabama had recorded 34 confirmed rabies cases as of early September — nearly matching the 35 cases reported during all of 2025.
The Alabama Department of Public Health warns that rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord of mammals. It is usually spread through the bite of an infected animal, but scratches or contact with infected saliva can also pose a risk.
Bats can be especially concerning because their bites may be small or go unnoticed. Health officials advise anyone who wakes to find a bat in a bedroom, or who may have had direct contact with one, to contact a physician or local health department.
Residents should never handle wild, stray or unusually behaving animals. Dogs, cats and ferrets should also remain current on rabies vaccinations.
If a bite or scratch occurs, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention promptly. Rabies can be prevented when post-exposure treatment is given before symptoms begin, but once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
For Madison and Morgan county residents, the message is simple: wildlife encounters should be taken seriously — even when the animal appears harmless.