Pasadena public health officials are warning the public about the risk of rabies after a dead bat tested positive for the deadly disease.
The bat was found near the intersection of East Green Street and South Hudson Avenue, officials from the Pasadena Public Health Department said.
It’s the first bat found in Pasadena to test positive for rabies since 2019, according to Manuel Carmona, the acting director of the PPHD. Carmona added that it’s possible there are other rabid bats in the region.
Bats are the only animals in Los Angeles County known to routinely carry rabies, and the animals are most active in the summer and early fall, especially around August and September.
Rabies is often fatal and timely treatment is considered crucial, according to Dr. Parveen Kaur, Pasadena Public Health Department’s acting health officer.
“Any contact with bats or other wild animals should be avoided,” Kaur said. “A scratch from a tooth or bite from a rabid animal could cause rabies infection in people or other animals.”
Any skin contact should be addressed urgently by washing the area with soap and water and visiting a doctor as soon as possible.
There have been no local reports of rabies in humans, officials said, and the risk of infection remains low. However, the public is urged to avoid handling a bat with bare hands and report any injured, sick or dead bats to public health officials.
In Pasadena, the local agency for handling bats is Pasadena Humane, which can be reached at 626-792-7151. Any animal bites should be discussed with a medical provider as soon as possible and veterinarians should be consulted if your pet has been in contact with a bat.
The public is encouraged to read up on rabies and its symptoms by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.