Los Angeles County has recorded 69 rabid bats so far this year, prompting health officials to remind residents to avoid contact with the animals and other wildlife.
The detections have not been limited to remote or undeveloped areas. According to the agency, rabid bats have been found throughout Los Angeles County, including in residential and suburban communities, with the largest concentration occurring in the Santa Clarita Valley, which accounted for 68 percent of the 69 rabid bats detected.
“Although it is preventable, it causes tens of thousands of deaths globally each year, with most human cases linked to exposure to dogs in countries where the dog strain of rabies is still present,” officials said. “While the dog strain of rabies was eradicated in the United States through routine pet vaccination of pets, other strains of rabies continue to circulate in wildlife, including bats.”
As the peak season winds down, public health officials are urging locals to take precautions to protect themselves and pets throughout the remainder of the year. The agency said residents should avoid touching bats or any wild animals, ensure their pets are vaccinated, and fill any openings throughout their homes that bats could get in through.
“If you find a bat indoors or think you may have had contact with one, contact your medical provider or [the health department] right away,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, said. “Immediately report any bat found indoors, or outdoors if it appears sick, active during the day, unable to fly, or dead, to your local animal control.”
