Pasadena health officials urged caution Friday after the discovery of a third bat with rabies.
The rabid bat was found Sunday, Oct. 11 on East Green Street between South Marengo and South Euclid avenues, the Pasadena Department of Public Health reported.
While health officials said no human rabies cases have been reported this year among the city’s nearly 136,000 residents and the overall risk to the public is low, they advised the public to exercise caution around bats. Several activities and events took place last weekend in the Civic Center District where the bat was found.
Pasadena health officials advised anyone who attended events or was in the area from Oct. 9-11 to consider whether they had direct contact with the bat, noting that being in the area or attending an event does not necessarily constitute exposure to rabies.
“Anyone who had contact with a bat should speak with their medical provider as soon as possible,” Director of Public Health Manuel Carmona said in a statement.
He also advised pet owners who believe their animals may have had contact with the bat to contact an emergency veterinarian.
According to the health department, humans should never touch bats with bare hands and should report any injured, sick or deceased bats to animal control or public health authorities.
“Any contact by humans or pets with a rabid bat is a very serious health concern,” Pasadena Health Officer Dr. Parveen Kaur said in a statement. “Rabies is a life-threatening disease that requires timely preventive medical treatment.
“To reduce risk, all contact with bats and other wild animals should be strictly avoided,” Kaur said. “Rabies can be transmitted through a bite or even a scratch from the tooth of an infected animal, posing a risk to both humans and animals.”
If contact with skin occurs, Kaur advised that the area should be immediately washed with soap and water and that individuals should seek medical care.
Anyone who witnesses a dead or dying bat on the ground was encouraged to not handle it and to contact the Pasadena Humane Society at 626-792-7151.
Additional information on rabies is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rabies website and by contacting the Pasadena Rent Stabilization Department via email at RentStablization@cityofpasadena.net or by calling 626-744-7999.