For the first time since 2014, a confirmed case of rabies has been detected in a bat in Long Beach, prompting public health officials to issue an urgent advisory urging residents to avoid handling wildlife and immediately report any encounters.
According to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, the specimen was collected and submitted to the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory, where it tested positive for the virus on September 30.
While bats testing positive for rabies are periodically identified across Los Angeles County and broader California, municipal authorities stress that residents must never handle these animals or allow household pets to come into contact with them.
“Even small or unnoticed bites can transmit rabies.,” said Dr. Cliff Okada, Long Beach City Health Officer.
Rabies is a viral infection targeting the central nervous system that can be transmitted to humans and animals through the saliva or bite of an infected host.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human cases remain rare in the United States, averaging fewer than 10 reported deaths annually, yet the disease continues to pose a critical public health threat due to its near-zero survival rate once clinical symptoms appear.
Recommended Prevention and Safety Measures
- Report bats right away: If you find a bat in or outside your home, especially near a sleeping person, child or pet, do not touch it with bare hands or release it. If it can be done safely, carefully cover the bat with a box or container and contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387, available 24/7, for guidance on collection and testing.
- Seek medical advice immediately: If you are bitten or scratched by a bat or may have had contact with one, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical care right away from a doctor or health care provider. Rabies can be prevented with prompt post-exposure treatment.
- Vaccinate your pets: Make sure dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccinations, including indoor pets. If a pet has contact with a bat or other wild animal, contact Long Beach Animal Care Services for guidance.
- Know the signs of illness in bats: Bats that are active during the day, on the ground or unable to fly may be sick. Do not touch the bat.
- Bat-proof your home: Search for openings 0.25 inch by 0.5 inch or larger, including electrical and plumbing holes, and seal them with caulking. Install heavy-duty wire mesh over vent openings. Ensure all doors to the outside close tightly. Use window screens, chimney caps and draft guards beneath attic doors.
Anyone who discovers a bat in or around their residence is urged to avoid touching or releasing the animal. When safe to do so, officials recommend containing it beneath a secure box or container and contacting Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387 to arrange for safe collection and rabies testing.
