Rabid bat found near zoo restaurant sparks urgent public health warning: 'Extremely serious'

Visitors to nan San Diego Zoo Safari Park are being urged to travel guardant if they had interaction pinch a chaotic bat aft nan animal tested affirmative for rabies.

A deceased chaotic bat was recovered extracurricular nan Oasis connected nan Rocks restaurant connected July 11. It later tested affirmative for rabies, according to nan San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

"Safari Park visitors who had nary beingness interaction pinch nan bat are not astatine consequence for rabies," nan parkland told Fox News Digital.

'UNSUPERVISED' CHILD AT HERSHEYPARK ZOO INJURED BY WOLF AFTER CRAWLING UNDER SAFETY BARRIER

County wellness officials are asking anyone who whitethorn person had nonstop interaction pinch nan bat to travel guardant for evaluation. 

The bat was not portion of nan Safari Park's animal postulation — and officials said nary quality interaction has been reported.

Visitors to nan San Diego Zoo Safari Park (not pictured) are being urged to travel guardant if they had interaction pinch a chaotic bat aft nan animal tested affirmative for rabies. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The bat was tested by nan County Public Health Laboratory, which confirmed it was affirmative for rabies, San Diego County noted.

This marks nan 19th bat to trial affirmative for rabies successful San Diego County this year. Twenty-one bats tested affirmative during each of 2025, according to region officials.

"Rabies is an highly serious viral disease, 1 of nan deadliest, pinch [a] astir 100% fatality [rate] if not caught early enough," said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, nan county's lawman nationalist wellness officer, successful a statement. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"We are investigating to guarantee anyone who came into interaction pinch nan bat receives attraction quickly. Once symptoms start, location is nary curen for rabies," Kadakia said.

Wildlife experts opportunity the incident serves arsenic a reminder that group should ne'er grip bats, moreover though they play an important domiciled successful nan environment.

People should ne'er grip bats, moreover though they play an important domiciled successful nan environment, said experts.  (iStock)

"There are complete 20 different type of bats surviving successful San Diego County, and these animals are a immense use to our region's gardens and farms, eating up to 1,000 mosquito-sized bugs per hour," Dr. Alexis Wohl, wildlife veterinary head astatine nan San Diego Humane Society, told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

"Although it's uncommon for bats to transportation rabies, it is important to workout be aware and not grip them pinch bare hands," Wohl said.

Dr. Brian Collins, a veterinarian pinch nan Cornell Riney Canine Health Center, based successful New York, said bats are 1 of nan superior carriers of rabies successful nan United States and relationship for astir quality rabies cases.

The bat was not portion of nan Safari Park's animal collection, and officials said nary quality interaction has been reported. (Amy Sparwasser/iStock)

"If a bat is encountered successful public, it is very important not to touch it," Collins told Fox News Digital.

Instead, he recommended keeping people and pets distant from nan animal and notifying spot management, animal power aliases section rule enforcement.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"If you cognize aliases fishy that you person had beingness interaction pinch nan bat, you should lavation nan affected area pinch soap and h2o for 10 to 15 minutes," Collins said.