Vista, California — Health officials in San Diego County are urging anyone who may have had direct contact with a bat at a Vista restaurant to seek medical advice immediately after laboratory testing confirmed the animal was infected with rabies.
The incident occurred on Sunday, July 19, at the Yellow Deli Restaurant, where a family was dining when a bat unexpectedly flew inside and landed on their table, prompting a public health investigation.
Bat Later Tested Positive for Rabies
According to San Diego County Public Health Services, the bat entered the restaurant around 1 p.m. before landing on a family’s table.
Officials said another customer used a towel to carefully pick up the bat and transported it to the Humane Society in Oceanside. The animal was later tested at the county’s public health laboratory, where it was confirmed to be positive for rabies.
As of Thursday, officials said no confirmed reports of direct human contact with the bat had been received. However, investigators are continuing to identify and reach anyone who may have been exposed.
Health Officials Urge Anyone Who Touched the Bat to Seek Care
Public health officials emphasized that the risk of rabies is limited to people who had direct physical contact with the bat or its saliva.
Anyone who handled the bat or believes they may have been exposed is encouraged to contact a healthcare provider immediately to determine whether post-exposure treatment is necessary.
Although human rabies infections are rare in the United States, the disease is considered almost always fatal once symptoms begin. Fortunately, it is preventable when treatment is started before symptoms develop, making prompt medical evaluation essential after a possible exposure.
Rabies Cases in Bats Continue to Be Monitored
Health officials said this is the 22nd bat confirmed to have rabies in San Diego County this year.
According to Emily Trumbull, a veterinarian with the county’s Epidemiology Unit, there has been an increase in encounters between people and bats this year. However, she noted that more human interactions do not necessarily mean a higher percentage of bats are carrying rabies.
“We work closely with animal health partners throughout the county in order to monitor for rabies among a variety of species,” Trumbull said. “We test animals that may be suspicious for rabies or that could be putting someone at high risk because of the type of exposure they had to these animals. Animals are under surveillance for rabies in the county of San Diego.”
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Officials Remind Public Never to Handle Bats
Trumbull explained that rabies exposure typically occurs when an infected animal bites someone or when infected saliva enters the eyes, nose, mouth or another mucous membrane.
She also stressed that bats play an important role in the environment and should never be handled by the public.
“Bats are protected wildlife and they’re very important to our ecosystem,” Trumbull said. “So it’s really important to never touch a bat. It’s important to respect the space of wildlife and stay a safe distance away from them. If the bat is available for rabies testing in those instances, then it can help inform whether you need post-exposure prophylaxis care.”
County officials are continuing efforts to contact the family whose table the bat landed on to assess whether anyone may need preventive treatment.
What would you do if you encountered a bat in a public place? Share your thoughts and remember to always avoid direct contact with wildlife and follow public health guidance.
