Local health officials say a bat that tested positive for rabies landed on the table of a restaurant while a family was eating. Now, they have a warning for anyone who may have touched it.
The risk of catching rabies may be a possibility for anyone who had direct contact with the bat that flew into the Yellow Deli Restaurant in Vista on Sunday, July 19
The incident occurred at 1 p.m., when a family was eating dinner and a bat landed on the table. Another diner picked up the bat and carried it to the Humane Society in Oceanside using a towel. After being brought to the county’s public health lab, the bat tested positive for rabies. As of Thursday, there have been no reports of people coming into direct contact with the bat.
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San Diego County Public Health Services warns any individuals who have touched the bat to call their health care provider immediately. The risk of rabies is only for the people who have had direct contact with the bat
Although catching rabies is rare, the consequences of the disease are critical enough to take caution. Rabies are preventable if treatment is obtained before symptoms start, but if transmitted, there is a 100% fatality rate. Symptoms may take months to appear which is why it is recommended to take action right after exposure.
This is the 22nd bat to test positive for rabies in San Diego County this year.
According to Emily Trumbull, a veterinarian for the county of San Diego’s Epidemiology Unit, there has been an increased number of human and bat interactions this year— but it doesn’t directly correlate to more bats having rabies
“We work closely with animal health partners throughout the county in order to monitor for rabies among a variety of species,” Trumbull said. “We test animals that may be suspicious for rabies or that could be putting someone at high risk because of the type of exposure they had to these animals. Animals are under surveillance for rabies in the county of San Diego.”
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Exposure to rabies means that one was either bitten or had saliva exposure to an animal infected with rabies that has entered your eyes, nose, or mouth, or any other mucous membrane, Trumbull said
“Bats are protected wildlife and they’re very important to our ecosystem,” Trumbull said. “So it’s really important to never touch a bat. It’s important to respect the space of wildlife and stay a safe distance away from them. If the bat is available for rabies testing in those instances, then it can help inform whether you need post-exposure prophylaxis care.”
Currently, officials are attempting to contact a family that had the bat fly onto their table. Their main concern is to explain to the family the risk of rabies transmission and see if they qualify for post-exposure prophylaxis care.
