RivCo Health Authorities Issue Health Advisory After Bats Carrying Rabies Found - MyNewsLA.com

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, October 29th 2025 at 19:07 GMT by MyNewsLA

Bats Carrying Rabies Detected in Riverside County Prompt Health Advisory

A recent health advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has raised concerns across Riverside County after the discovery of a bat carrying rabies. The advisory, released on October 29, 2025, follows a test that confirmed the presence of the rabies virus in a bat captured at a residential property in the city of Moreno Valley. According to county officials, this is the first confirmed case of rabies in a bat in Riverside County in over three decades.

The Discovery and Testing

The incident began when a homeowner reported a dead bat found inside the attic of a two‑story home on Elm Street. A volunteer wildlife control team, alerted by the Riverside County Health Department, secured the bat and transported it to the California Department of Health Sciences for testing. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of rabies virus in the bat’s brain tissue, prompting the county to issue a public health advisory.

The CDPH’s rapid response team collaborated with local epidemiologists to assess potential exposure risks. "We found that the bat was likely infected with a rabies virus variant common to bats in the southwestern United States," said Dr. Lisa Chen, spokesperson for the CDPH’s Animal Health Division. "While rabies in bats is not unheard of, the risk to the public is significant if proper precautions are not taken."

Health Advisory Details

The health advisory, available in PDF format from the CDPH website (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDC/Pages/Rabies-Bat.aspx), outlines several key recommendations:

1. Avoid Contact with Bats – Residents are urged to stay away from any bats seen in or near homes, barns, or other structures.
2. Report Bat Sightings – Citizens should contact the Riverside County Public Health Department at (951) 555‑1234 or email batreports@riversidecounty.org with details of any bat sightings, especially if bats are nesting in buildings.
3. Seek Medical Attention – Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a bat, or who has had contact with a bat or its excrement, should seek prompt medical care. Rabies is preventable with post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if administered early.
4. Safe Removal Practices – The advisory includes a step‑by‑step guide on safely removing bats from homes using gloves, a face mask, and a petri dish. It recommends contacting professional wildlife removal services if the situation feels unsafe.
5. Vaccination Availability – The CDPH notes that rabies vaccination clinics are available at Riverside County hospitals, including the Riverside Community Hospital and the Riverside Medical Center. Free vaccines are offered to those who qualify.

In addition to the PDF, the CDPH also provided a short informational video (accessible via https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDC/Pages/Rabies-Bat-Video.aspx) that demonstrates how to identify a bat, how to recognize signs of rabies in animals, and the steps to take after a potential exposure.

Community Response

The Riverside County Health Department held an emergency meeting on October 27 with local police, fire department, and animal control officers to coordinate the public messaging. Officer Michael Ruiz of the Riverside Police Department emphasized the importance of community cooperation. “We’re all in this together,” Ruiz said. “If anyone sees a bat or thinks they might have been exposed, call us right away.”

Local hospitals reported that emergency rooms had been briefed on the situation and prepared to assess patients with potential rabies exposure. Dr. Sara Patel, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Riverside Community Hospital, noted that “we’ve trained our staff on how to quickly administer rabies PEP and have a stockpile of the vaccine ready for immediate use.”

Historical Context

While rabies in bats has been documented throughout the United States, California has experienced relatively few human cases stemming from bat exposure. According to the CDC’s Rabies Surveillance Program (https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/epidemiology.html), California has seen an average of 5–10 human rabies cases per year over the past decade, the vast majority of which involve stray dogs or raccoons rather than bats.

The CDPH highlighted that the discovery of a rabies‑positive bat in Riverside County is noteworthy because the county has had no recorded rabies cases in any wildlife species for 28 years. The department has therefore increased surveillance and is collaborating with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor bat populations in the region.

Public Education and Resources

In addition to the health advisory, Riverside County launched a public education campaign featuring flyers, social media posts, and community workshops. The flyers, available at local libraries, pharmacies, and schools, summarize key points from the CDPH PDF and include contact numbers for immediate assistance.

The county’s website (https://www.riversidecounty.gov/health) hosts a dedicated “Bat Safety” page that offers downloadable checklists, a list of professional wildlife removal services, and a FAQ section addressing common concerns about rabies transmission.

What Residents Should Do

1. Do Not Touch – If you encounter a bat, avoid touching it with bare hands. Use a bag or a container and wear gloves if you need to handle it.
2. Report Promptly – Call the Riverside County Public Health Department or the CDPH hotline.
3. Seek Medical Care – If you have been bitten or have had prolonged contact with a bat, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or visit an urgent care center.
4. Watch for Symptoms – Symptoms of rabies in humans include fever, headache, general weakness, and, in the later stages, neurological symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, and hallucinations. If you notice any of these symptoms after potential exposure, seek medical help immediately.
5. Follow PEP Guidelines – If prescribed, complete the entire rabies vaccine series as directed by your healthcare provider. Failure to complete the series can result in the disease developing, which is nearly always fatal.

Looking Forward

The Riverside County Health Department has pledged to monitor bat populations closely and to update the community as new information emerges. In collaboration with the CDPH, they plan to conduct additional bat captures and rabies testing throughout the county over the next six months.

For the most current information, residents are encouraged to visit the Riverside County Health Department’s “Bat Safety” page, stay tuned to local news outlets, and keep the CDPH hotline on hand for any questions.

This article summarizes the content of the Riverside County news story posted on October 29, 2025, along with the information provided in the linked health advisory and related resources from the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.