California neighborhood on alert after bat found near sidewalk tests positive for rabies virus

A rabid bat discovered near a popular pedestrian pathway in South Fremont, California, has triggered a public health advisory urging residents to steer clear of wild animals and seek medical care without delay if they suspect any contact.

The bat was found on May 26 near Palo Verde Common, a neighborhood area close to a sidewalk where pedestrians and pets could have easily encountered it, according to the Fremont Police Department. The Alameda County Vector Control agency confirmed on Thursday that the animal tested positive for rabies.

No human or animal exposures to the bat have been identified so far, but the incident remains under investigation, officials said. Residents in the surrounding area have been informed about the finding and the potential dangers rabies poses.

Rabies is a viral illness that attacks the brain and nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop, according to public health authorities. The disease, however, is preventable if an exposed person or animal receives a series of rabies vaccine shots promptly after contact.

Anyone who believes they may have touched or been bitten by the bat is being asked to call the Alameda County Public Health Acute Communicable Disease Program at 510-267-3250 and seek immediate medical attention.

Health officials are using the discovery to reinforce broader warnings about wildlife encounters. Bats are among the animals capable of carrying the virus, along with skunks, foxes, coyotes and raccoons. Unvaccinated dogs and cats face a medium to high risk of both contracting and spreading rabies, according to authorities.

Residents are being advised not to handle bats or other wild animals found in homes or yards, and to refrain from touching any sick or dead animals they come across. Unusual behavior in wildlife should be reported to Fremont Animal Services or the Alameda County Public Health Department.

As a precaution, officials are encouraging pet owners to keep their animals' rabies vaccinations current, confine pets to their property, and remove outdoor food sources that might attract wild animals into residential areas.