Health officials are warning that a bat found in Orange County last week has tested positive for rabies.
The bat was discovered on the ground by a walking path around Rancho Santa Margarita Lake on April 17, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
The health department is urging anyone who may have had physical contact with the bat, or witnessed someone else come in contact with it, to call the HCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division at 714-834-8180 any time of day.
Pet owners who believe their animals may have come into contact with the bat are advised to contact their veterinarian.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Though rare, the virus can also spread if infected saliva comes into contact with eyes, mouth or open wounds. Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and their bites can be difficult to detect due to the small size of their teeth.
Immediate medical treatment following exposure is essential to prevent the onset of symptoms, which are almost always fatal once they appear, officials said.
The HCA and Mission Viejo Animal Services Center recommend the public take the following precautions:
- Avoid contact with wild animals.
- Keep cats and dogs vaccinated against rabies.
- Do not sleep with unscreened windows or doors open.
- Contact animal control if bats are found indoors.
- Avoid leaving pet food outdoors.
- Wash any animal bites thoroughly and seek medical attention immediately.
- Report all animal bites to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center at 949-470-3045.
For more information about rabies, visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/rabies.
