Rabid Bat Found at Irvine Regional Park

A bat found at Irvine Regional Park has tested positive for rabies. The Orange County Healthcare Agency made this announcement after the bat was discovered on Sunday morning, May 24. Health officials are warning people who may have touched the bat to call them right away. This is important because rabies is a very dangerous disease that can kill people and animals.

The bat was found at 9:30 in the morning on Sunday. Anyone who touched the bat or saw someone else touch it needs to call the health department at (714) 834-8180. Pet owners should also call their vet if they think their animals came near the bat. Even small contact with a rabid animal can be very dangerous.

Rabies is a virus that lives in the spit of infected animals. People can get rabies if a sick animal bites them. The virus can also spread if the animal's spit gets in someone's eyes, mouth, or open cuts. However, this doesn't happen very often.

Most people in the United States who get rabies catch it from bats. Bats have very small teeth, so people might not even notice if they get bitten. This makes bats especially dangerous because people don't know they need help. Rabies is nearly always fatal once someone starts showing signs of the virus.

The good news is that doctors can prevent rabies if they treat people quickly. Anyone who might have been near the rabid bat should see a doctor right away. The treatment works best when it's given soon after contact with a sick animal. This is why health officials want people to call immediately if they touched the bat.

Health experts want everyone to follow some simple rules to stay safe from rabies. First, people should never touch wild animals like bats, raccoons, or skunks. Second, all cats and dogs should get rabies shots from the vet. Third, people should not sleep with open windows that don't have screens.

If bats get inside a house, people should close off that area and call animal control. After the bats are removed, all holes where they got in should be sealed up. Pet food should never be left outside because it attracts wild animals. If any animal bites someone, they should wash the bite with soap and water and see a doctor.

Anyone who finds bats in their home or gets bitten by an animal should call OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848. The health department also wants people to report all animal bites. Taking these steps can help keep families and pets safe from this deadly disease.