Bat found at Mission San Juan Capistrano tests positive for rabies

A bat found at Mission San Juan Capistrano this week tested positive for rabies, Orange County health officials said Saturday, making it the fifth rabid bat found in the county since September.

The bat was found on the grounds of the mission on Ortega Highway at around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, according to the county’s Health Care Agency.

It wasn’t clear whether the bat was alive when it was found.

Anyone who may have had physical contact with the bat or saw someone else having contact with it is asked to call the Health Care Agency’s communicable disease control division at 714-834-8180 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 714-834-7792 after hours. Owners of pets who may have had contact with the bat should talk to their veterinarian.

Another bat tested positive for rabies earlier this month. That one was found near a Kohl’s department store in Seal Beach on Oct. 6. In September, three bats in the county also tested positive for rabies, with two in Anaheim and one in Irvine.

Most cases of human rabies in the country have come from bat strains, since they have very small teeth and the bite may go unnoticed, according to the Health Care Agency.

“Rabid bats are identified routinely each year in Orange County and around the country,” the agency said in a statement. “Contact with bats should be avoided and any potential bat bite should be discussed with a medical provider.”

The rabies virus is found in animal saliva and can be transmitted to humans by a bite from a rabid animal. Although it’s rare, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound can also transmit the virus, according to the agency.

When a person beings showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is almost always fatal. That’s why preventative treatment to stop the virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed.

The Health Care Agency and OC Animal Care recommend to take these steps to reduce the risk of rabies:

• Avoid all contact with wild animals.
• Vaccinate all cats and dogs against rabies.
• Do not sleep with open unscreened windows or doors.
• If bats are seen inside the house or other structure, close off the area and contact animal control. Once the bat(s) have been removed, close off any areas allowing entrance into the house.
• Do not leave pet food outside where it will attract wild animals.
• Immediately wash all animal bites with soap and water, being sure to flush the wound well, then contact your doctor.
• Report all animal bites or bats found in a home or workplace to your local animal control agency.