San Diego City Wire

County public health officials are seeking individuals who may have come into contact with a bat found at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Monday, Sept. 23, at 2:15 p.m. The bat later tested positive for rabies.

The wild bat was not part of the Safari Park's habitat. Park visitors who did not physically interact with the bat are not at risk for rabies. A team member observed the bat fall from a roof and land in an employee-only section of the Africa Tram loading area, which is not accessible to the public.

A trained team member safely collected the bat and transported it to a local rehabilitation facility, where it later died. It was then submitted to the County for rabies testing. The County Public Health Laboratory confirmed that the bat was infected with rabies.

If you or someone in your family or group were in the area of the Africa Tram on Sept. 23 and had direct contact with a bat before 2:15 PM, you are urged to contact County Public Health Services as soon as possible at (619) 692-8499.

“Human rabies is usually fatal without prompt post-exposure vaccine and treatment,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, County interim public health officer. “Rabies transmission can happen from a bat bite or if a bat’s saliva comes in contact with a cut or abrasion, or with mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose or mouth.”

The County has detected five rabid bats in 2024 throughout the San Diego region. While bats can carry rabies, they also play an important role in nature by feeding on insects like mosquitoes and pollinating plants.

Officials advise appreciating wildlife from a safe distance and avoiding direct contact with them. If direct contact occurs, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice immediately.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Symptoms in humans can take weeks to months to develop after exposure. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal; however, prompt post-exposure treatment can prevent the disease.

More information about bats and rabies can be found on the County’s website.

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