America's Top Rabies Threat - Bats

Discover how bats have emerged as the primary source of rabies fatalities in the United States in this 12-minute educational video from the American Society for Microbiology. Learn about the shift from traditional rabies transmission through dog and terrestrial wildlife bites to the current reality where bats pose the greatest threat to human health. Explore the epidemiological changes that have occurred in recent decades and understand why bat-related rabies cases, though rare, carry such deadly consequences when they do occur. Gain insights into the biology and behavior of bats that contribute to their role as rabies vectors, and examine the public health implications of this evolving threat. The presentation is delivered by Dr. Rodney Rohde, a distinguished professor and expert in microbiology from Texas State University, who brings extensive expertise in virology and clinical pathology to explain this critical public health topic.