Long Beach health officials announced Friday the confirmation of a rabies-positive bat, the first such detection in the city in more than ten years. The bat was submitted and tested by the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday, according to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services.
While rabies-positive bats are found in Los Angeles County annually, this recent case is the first positive detection within Long Beach city limits since 2014, making it a notable local occurrence. Rabies is a serious viral disease that infects the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. The disease can spread to both people and animals through the bite of an infected animal. In California, bats and skunks are the animals most frequently found to be infected with rabies.
Dr. Cliff Okada, Long Beach City Health Officer, urged residents to avoid touching bats or any other wild animals and to ensure pets do not come into contact with them. Bat bites can be surprisingly small and may even go unnoticed, particularly if a person is asleep at the time of exposure.
Anyone who experiences a bite or scratch from a bat, or suspects they may have had contact with one, should immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. Following this, prompt medical attention is crucial, as rabies can be prevented with timely post-exposure treatment, health officials emphasized.
If a bat is found inside or outside a home, especially near a sleeping person, a child, or a pet, residents are advised not to touch or release it. Instead, if it can be done safely, the bat should be covered with a box or container. Long Beach Animal Care Services should then be contacted at 562-570-7387 for guidance on safe collection and testing. Officials also noted that bats active during the day, found on the ground, or unable to fly, may be sick and should not be handled.
For pet owners, keeping dogs and cats up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations is an important preventative measure. Should a pet come into contact with a bat or other wild animal, Animal Care Services should be contacted immediately.
Los Angeles County Public Health reports that in recent years, approximately 17% of bats encountered by people or pets in the county have tested positive for rabies. This rate can climb higher, reaching up to 33% in late summer months. A potential rabies exposure occurs when saliva or nervous tissue from an infected or potentially infected bat enters the body through a bite, scratch, a wound, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Health officials specifically advised that if someone wakes up to find a bat in their room, or if a bat is found near a sleeping person, young child, or pet, they should contact both a healthcare provider and Long Beach Animal Care Services for guidance. For more detailed information on rabies, animal bites, and potential exposures, residents can contact the city’s Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control program at 562-570-4302.
