Bat Rabies Alert

As of 9/16/10, the Veterinary Public Health &
Rabies Control Program has detected 15 rabid
bats in Los Angeles County this year, with eight
found in the Santa Clarita Valley. In most
years, only about ten rabid bats are detected for
the entire year. The only other year with a
higher number of rabid bats detected was 2007
when 24 rabid bats were identified.
This year, most of the rabid bats were found in
and around homes, and in two cases, dogs
were found playing with the live bat. The pets
were revaccinated against rabies and
quarantine at home for 30 days. If the dogs had
not been up to date on their rabies
immunization, the owners would have been
given the choice of either euthanizing the pet or
placing in a strict quarantine for 6 months.
Three of the bats were collected in public
locations. Earlier in the year, rabid bats were
found at a golf course and in a judge’s
chambers. This past Tuesday (9/14), a live bat
was collected from the sidewalk in front of a
store in a mall in Stevenson Ranch.

-County of Los Angeles Public Health
Veterinary Public Health & Rabies Control