Second rabid bat found in crowded California neighborhoods sparks concern of human and pet exposure
A bat infected with rabies has sparked health concerns in San Francisco.
The Alameda County Vector Control Services said Tuesday, May 26, it collected a bat in the area of Palo Verde Common in South Fremont, which later tested positive for rabies.
Usually spread from animals to humans through animal bites, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms such as confusion, agitation, restlessness and excessive salivation begin.
Because the bat was discovered ‘near a sidewalk within reachable distance of pedestrians and animals,’ Alameda County Vector Control said it is leading an investigation into the incident.
There are currently no known human or animal exposures associated with the incident.
‘Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that affects the brain and nervous system,’ the police department said. ‘It is preventable if the exposed person or animal receives a series of rabies vaccine shots as soon as possible after exposure.
‘Humans and pets should avoid contact with bats and other wild animals that can carry rabies, including skunks, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons.’
The incident comes after another bat in the nearby Glenmoor neighborhood tested positive for rabies in March.
A bat infected with rabies was found in the San Francisco area, sparking fears of potential animal and human exposure (stock image)
The press release encouraged residents not to touch sick or dead animals and to report them to Fremont Animal Services or the Alameda County Public Health Department.
Officials urged residents to vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies and keep dogs confined to property, especially if they are under three months.
Residents should also remove any outdoor pet food that may attract skunks and other wildlife that can carry rabies, as well as eliminate hiding spots by clearing trash, woodpiles, dense vegetation and hollow logs.
The department said a home can be bat-proofed by sealing openings larger than 1/4 inch, especially near the roof.
Rabies is a deadly virus that is transmitted through saliva from infected animals like dogs, raccoons, bats, coyotes and foxes. Most people get it from an animal bite or scratch.
In one extremely rare case, Michigan grandfather Barney Kurowicki contracted the disease in January 2025 after receiving a kidney transplant.
The kidney was thought to have been infected with rabies.
Rabies moves along the spinal cord and travels to the brain, causing inflammation.
Early symptoms in humans include fever, headache, agitation, confusion and vomiting.
In later stages, patients suffer restlessness, hallucinations, seizures and twitching, excessive salivation, and a fear of water or air blowing in their face.
The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms start.
Only 20 cases of humans surviving rabies have been recorded in medical literature worldwide.
Around 5,000 animal cases of rabies are reported each year, and about 60,000 Americans seek care for potential exposure.
Fewer than 10 Americans die from rabies every year, according to the CDC.
The only way to cure or prevent rabies is with a series of four to five vaccines, which must be given as soon as possible after someone believes or confirms to have been exposed. Imovax Rabies and RabAvert are used in humans in the US.
