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A bat found near Fullerton College’s music building tested positive for rabies, prompting a public health warning
Officials urge anyone who had contact with the bat to seek medical care to prevent the disease, which is almost always fatal
Rabies can spread through bites or saliva exposure, with bats being a common source of human rabies cases in the U.S.
A bat discovered at Fullerton College in California has tested positive for rabies.
The bat was located on the stairs near the campus’ music building at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17, the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a Thursday, April 23, press release.
“Anyone who may have had physical contact with the bat or saw someone else having contact with the bat is asked to call the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division at (714) 834-8180 during business hours or after hours to determine the risk for rabies,” the release read.
“Owners of pets who may have had contact with this bat should contact their veterinarian,” officials added.
According to the release, the rabies virus can be found in the saliva of animals. Humans can then become infected with a virus through a bite from the rabid animal.
“Although very rare, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound by the saliva of a rabid animal can also transmit rabies,” the release read. “Most cases of human rabies in the United States in recent years have resulted from bat strains of rabies; bats have very small teeth, and their bites may go unnoticed.”
Fullerton College
Credit: Getty
PEOPLE reached out to Fullerton College for comment.
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Health officials added that the disease is nearly always fatal when symptoms of rabies appear.
Stock image of bat
Credit: Getty
“For that reason, preventive treatment to stop the rabies virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed to rabies,” the agency added.
Officials said that infected people should seek immediate medical treatment “so any wound can be cleaned and preventive treatment can be started.”
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