CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Health officials say a bat found in Chapel Hill tested positive for rabies. It is the first such case in the state this year.

A Chapel Hill woman reported seeing the bat in her townhome last week and contacted Animal Control. Once the bat was caught and tested, results came back positive for the disease.

Bats often get into homes through air vents and other holes around the house. As the weather gets warmer, experts said to make sure window screens are intact because bats can squeeze through easily.

Rabies is a disease, caused by a virus, that can infect all mammals, including humans. It is transmitted through contact with the saliva or nervous tissue of an infectious animal -- usually through a bite.