A bat has been identified and tested positive for rabies in Southwest Utah, prompting a health warning. This is not the first rabid bat detected in Utah this year. According to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD), bats are the primary carrier of rabies virus in Utah, but humans can get the virus from any infected animal. All pet dogs, cats, and ferrets are required to be immunized against rabies, but wild animals are not. If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, it is essential to seek medical care immediately. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has previously tested hundreds of animals forrabies in previous years, but only a small percentage of these animals tested positive.