CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Health Officials, Police Warn of Rabid Bat in Newport Beach

A bat from the area near the bike trail at University Drive and Jamboree Road has tested positive for rabies, according to officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency.

A second bat found near the Bank of America at 2680 N. Tustin Ave. in Orange also tested positive, officials said.

Officials say that anyone who had contact Monday with a bat before 6 p.m. in the Newport Beach location, or before 3:30 p.m. in the Orange area, should call (714) 834-8180 and talk to a health care epidemiology nurse who can evaluate your risk for rabies.

“Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal,” according to a statement from health officials. “For that reason, preventive treatment to stop the rabies virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed to rabies. Medical assistance should be obtained promptly after an exposure so any wound can be cleaned and preventive treatment can be started. This treatment is safe and effective.”

The rabies virus is found in an animal’s saliva and is transmitted to people by a bite from a rabid animal, the statement says. Rarely, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound by the saliva of a rabid animal can also transmit rabies. Most cases of human rabies in the United States in recent years have resulted from bat strains of rabies; bats have very small teeth, and their bites may go unnoticed.

Newport Beach Police Explorers are distributing information to people along the bike trails where the bat was found.

Health officials urge people to avoid contact with wild animals, to vaccinate dogs and cats, to close windows and screens when sleeping, to call animal control if you see bats inside your home and not to leave pet food outside.

Potential exposure to a bat or other wild animals should be reported to Orange County Public Health Epidemiology at (714) 834-8180. To report a bat in your home, an animal bite, or a stray animal, contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848. For more rabies information, click here.