Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Rabies-Carrying Bats Prompt Warnings From Fresno County Health
Liz-Juarez
By Liz Juarez
Published 3 years ago on
November 10, 2021

Share

A significant number of Americans have seen an increase in hospital visits for exposure to rabies after close contact with wild, rabid animals in the last few years across the U.S. and in Fresno County.

With misconceptions and misinformation running rampant among COVID-19 deniers and a vaccine hesitant public, health officials say similar doubts are now being expressed in relation to the rabies virus.

“The global pandemic has raised many doubts and misconceptions about diseases and how they’re spread, and about vaccines in general,” said Steven Rhodes, the division manager of environmental health for the Fresno County Health Department.

Fresno County Rabies Positive Cases

According to Rhodes, since 2019, Fresno has had 12 animal cases of positive rabies tests with 11 of those being in bats and one from a cat.

The rabies virus is common in nature and affects 15% of the bat population in Fresno.

“I think I was surprised to learn that so many bats in our area have rabies because it’s not uncommon to see bats flying around at dusk and things like that,” said Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra. “So definitely want to reinforce that people should never touch a bat or handle a bat, whether it’s dead or dying or struggling.”

Health officials say the best way to combat rabies is by making sure family pets — that includes cats, which are just as susceptible as dogs — are vaccinated against the virus

“Cat bites are not as common as dog bites in my clinical experience, but cats are sneaky and they’ll get out and find a dead bat,” said Vohra. “Unfortunately, we’ve had cats that tested positive for rabies in my brief tenure here at public health.”

To keep track of animal bites in the region, the health department offers an online portal the public can access to report potential exposure to the rabies virus.

Rabies Cases Across The Country

So far this year, 158 humans have been bitten by rabid animals, with cases reported in Oregon, Delaware and Massachusetts a Fresno environmental health official said.

A recent CDC report indicates that while cases of human rabies in the U.S. are quite rare, exposure to rabies is becoming much more common with data suggesting that a total of 55,000 Americans were treated for potential rabies exposure from the years 2017 to 2018 after close contact with a rabid animal – indicating that thousands of Americans are continually being treated each year for possible exposure.

This continued health risk has prompted health officials in Vermont to take preventative actions by using bait to capture and vaccinate much of the bat population in the region.

While exposure to the disease has increased, fatalities are much more common in other countries. A total of 59,000 people die globally from rabies infections every year.

The CDC states that rabies, while almost always fatal if untreated, can be cured in humans through quick action.

Proximity To A Rabid Animal Poses Danger

In most cases, based on the nature of the bite, victims are usually administered prompt treatment if they suspect the animal was carrying the rabies virus.

Being bitten by a rabid animal however, is not the only way that a human can be infected with the virus. People can also become infected without ever being bitten, says Rhodes.

“In fact, if you have it, they say if you are in the same room as a bat, you have to get rabies prophylaxis (preventative treatment),” said Vohra. “Because it’s that risky. I don’t know if that’s an exaggeration, but that’s really the clinical teaching is, you know, being that proximal to a bat is so high risk.”

In its report, the CDC states that contact with bats can happen unknowingly if a bat is present in a room with a young child, an impaired person, or someone who is asleep.

Bat bites are often small and overlooked, thus health officials advise seeking urgent care if they suspect exposure.

Fresno County Resources In Case Of Rabies Exposure

The county’s Rabies and Animal Control Program is located on the third floor of the Public Health Department on Fulton Street in downtown Fresno.

To report animal bites and potential rabies exposure, fill out their online form or call 559-600-3357.

For any other information on rabies prevention and exposure or vaccine information for pets, visit the Fresno County Department of Public Health website. 

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

DON'T MISS

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

DON'T MISS

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

DON'T MISS

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

DON'T MISS

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

DON'T MISS

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

DON'T MISS

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

UP NEXT

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Need Help Finding Family of Alejandro Solis

UP NEXT

Lilly Is a Young Terrier Who Loves Dogs, Cats, and People

UP NEXT

Colorado Man Charged with Pointing Laser at Fresno Sheriff Helicopter

UP NEXT

Fresno Firefighters Save Dog From Canal and Now She’s Ready for Adoption

UP NEXT

State Center Trustees Render Split Decision on Future of PLAs

UP NEXT

The ‘Six’ Wives of King Henry VIII Sing Their Hearts Out in Fresno

UP NEXT

Reps. Costa, Gray Propose Bill to Address Critical Doctor Shortage in Rural Areas

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Yakista Ceeblaj Lor

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

8 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

8 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

8 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

10 hours ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

11 hours ago

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

11 hours ago

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

12 hours ago

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

12 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

13 hours ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

13 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Christina Rodriguez about the possibility of CEMEX digging a 600-foot hole ...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
7 hours ago

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

8 hours ago

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

8 hours ago

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

8 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

8 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, seated right, gives a thumbs-up alongside his wife Lisa Oz, seated left, with friends and family after he testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP/Ben Curtis)
10 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

11 hours ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend