Polk County officials have confirmed a second rabies case for 2026, less than two weeks after the first case was reported.
On March 25, a man living southwest of Lakeland reported that one of his three dogs was pawing at a bat inside his home. The bat, identified as a Brazilian free-tailed bat, was collected by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control and sent to the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Tampa for testing. On March 31, Animal Control was notified that the bat tested positive for rabies.
Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the importance of keeping pets vaccinated and maintaining distance from wild animals, particularly those displaying unusual or aggressive behavior. He advised residents to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control immediately if they or their pets come into contact with potentially rabid animals.
All three of the man’s dogs are vaccinated and remain under quarantine at his residence. This marks the second confirmed rabies case in Polk County this year.
