County public health officials asked anyone in touch with a rabid bat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park earlier this week to contact them.
The wild battle was found at 10:45 am Wednesday next to the public elevator in the African loop, near the aerial hotspot, according to a press release.
The bat was then tested positive for rage. It is “not the one on the habitat at Safari Park,” said officials.
The county urged anyone near the elevator and the stairs on Wednesday before 10:45 a.m. and had direct contact with the bat, or who knows someone who may have touched him, to call the county’s public health services at 619-692-8499 as soon as possible.
According to county health officials, rabies is a avoidable viral disease which “is most often transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal”.
Symptoms in humans can take weeks to develop after exposure to the rabies virus. Human rage “is generally fatal without rapid vaccine and post-exposure treatment,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, manager of acting public health for the county.
“The transmission of rabies can occur from a bat bite or if the saliva of a bat comes into contact with a cut or abrasion, or with mucous membranes, like eyes, nose or mouth,” said Kadakia.
So far this year, officials have detected three rabid bats in the county.
Many species of bats are in the county and eat insects such as mosquitoes, have said officials. Other types of bats consume vegetable nectar and also play a role in pollination, according to the county, which added that residents “can see bats occasionally around sunset, when they are the most active”.
“It is important to assess the fauna at a safe distance and to note them,” said the county officials, adding that those who come into direct contact with a bat completely washed the affected area with soap and water and immediately request a doctor.
More information on rabies is available on the county website, Sandiegocounty.gov.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
