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The bat infected with rabies was found this month near Lake Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County, health officials said.
The bat was discovered on April 17th and was tested as part of the county’s routine rabies surveillance efforts, according to the OC Healthcare Agency. The infected bat body was frozen and sent to the California Department of Public Health.
OC Healthcare Agency encourages people who have physical contact with BAT, or who have seen others do so, to notify their disease control department to determine their risk of infection. Pet owners who may have touched a bat are being asked to contact health authorities.
According to medical institutions, rabies is almost always fatal in humans after someone starts to show symptoms. That’s why it’s important for people to seek medical assistance promptly after possible exposure, officials say.
The virus usually spreads through the saliva of an infected animal when chewed. Bats have small teeth, so bites are usually unaware, increasing the risk of infection.
As of April, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department has documented two rabies bats around the Santa Clarita area this year. One of the bats was found dead in the backyard of the house, while the other was alive in the front yard of the house.
In 2024, Fresno County recorded its first human rabies death in more than 30 years. The person was infected after being bitten by a bat.
Bats are a major source of transmission, although human cases of rabies are rare, according to Orange County health officials.
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