State health officials say a person died from rabies after exposure to a bat

A person over the age of 65 has died from rabies, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The agency is calling it a rare death.

That person was exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July. It’s the fourth human case of rabies since 2000.

According to the Department of Health, this case is an important reminder that bats in Minnesota can have rabies and that the public should avoid contact with bats.

If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person, unattended child, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. A bat’s teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.