BAT tests positive for rabies in GREGG COUNTY
Houston County Courier - October 2007

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, on Sept. 26 an employee was at his boss’ house in the northeast part of Longview, cleaning the pool pump. 

When he pulled back the cover, something fell to the ground.  The employee thought it was a leaf and picked it up to throw it away. 

Instead it was a live bat that bit him. 

The employee flung the bat off his finger and then stomped it. 

The man reportedly called animal control to pick up the bat in order to have it sent in for rabies testing.  The bat tested positive for rabies.

The incident led to the man being required to take the rabies post-exposure shot series.
"Please caution your friends, citizens, and family to avoid contact with bats and to seek medical evaluation if they are bitten, or even bumped into, by a bat," said DSHS Regional Zoonosis Veterinarian Dr. James Wright.