San Diego Zoo Safari Park warns visitors after bat tests positive for rabies
A dead wild bat found near a restaurant at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to advise anyone with direct contact to seek evaluation.
A wild bat recovered outside the Oasis on the Rocks restaurant at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on July 11 tested positive for rabies, according to park officials. The animal was not part of the park’s collection and no human contact has been reported.
County health officials are asking anyone who may have had direct contact with the bat to come forward for evaluation. The San Diego County Public Health Laboratory confirmed the positive result, marking the 19th bat to test positive for rabies in the county this year.
"Safari Park visitors who had no physical contact with the bat are not at risk for rabies," the park said.
"Rabies is an extremely serious viral disease, one of the deadliest, with a nearly 100% fatality rate if not caught early enough," Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the county’s deputy public health officer, said.
Wildlife experts emphasized that bats should not be handled, even though they provide ecological benefits. Dr. Alexis Wohl of the San Diego Humane Society noted that over 20 bat species in the region consume large numbers of insects.
"Although it's rare for bats to carry rabies, it is important to exercise caution and not handle them with bare hands," Wohl added.
Veterinarian Dr. Brian Collins, who studies rabies transmission, said bats are a primary source of rabies cases in the United States and advised the public to avoid touching bats, keep pets away, and notify authorities. He recommended washing any exposed skin with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes if contact occurs.