The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is hoping to raise awareness about rabies as World Rabies Day approaches. The health caution comes as Stanislaus County has recorded two confirmed cases of rabies in animals, a bat and a skunk, this year.

Both of the animals that tested positive for rabies had interactions with domestic pets, reinforcing the importance of vaccinating pets and preventing them from interacting with wildlife, according to the health department. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recently issued a Health Advisory following increases in reported human exposures to rabid or potentially rabid animals in several areas of the United States.

“Rabies is rare, but it is an extremely serious disease that is nearly universally fatal once symptoms develop,” said Thea Papasozomenos, MD, MPH, Stanislaus County Public Health Officer. “The good news is that rabies is preventable. Avoid contact with wild animals, keep your pets vaccinated, and seek medical advice promptly if you think you or a family member may have been exposed.”

In 2024, a Dos Palos teacher died after being bitten by a presumably rabid bat in Merced County approximately one month earlier. Deaths from rabies are rare in the United States, with fewer than 10 cases identified each year. Nonetheless, each year, thousands of people receive preventive treatment for rabies following a bite or other direct contact with an animal with possible rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system. Any mammal, including people and domestic animals, can become infected. In California, bats are the animal most frequently reported with rabies, followed by skunks. Rabies is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal but can also spread when infected saliva comes into contact with broken skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth. Once symptoms develop, rabies is nearly always fatal. However, rabies can be prevented when potential exposures are identified and appropriate medical care is received before symptoms develop.

Residents should never touch, feed, capture, or attempt to care for wild animals, including those that appear sick or injured. This is especially important with bats because their bites can be small and may not leave an obvious mark. A bat found on the ground or active during the day may be sick or injured and should not be handled.

Residents can reduce the risk of rabies by:

• Keeping pets vaccinated. Make sure pets are current on recommended rabies vaccinations.
• Avoiding contact with wildlife. Never handle or attempt to care for bats, skunks, or other wild animals.
• Supervising pets outdoors. Keep pets from approaching or interacting with wildlife.
• Teaching children to avoid wild or unfamiliar animals, even if an animal appears friendly, sick, or injured.
• Taking possible exposures seriously. Seek guidance after direct contact with a bat or other potentially rabid animal, even if you do not see an obvious bite.

If you are bitten or scratched by a wild or unfamiliar animal, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider.

If you had direct contact with a bat or find a bat in a situation where contact cannot be ruled out, such as in a room with a sleeping person, unattended young child, or someone unable to reliably report whether contact occurred, contact a healthcare provider or Public Health for a rabies risk assessment.

When recommended, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is highly effective at preventing rabies when given before symptoms develop.

If your pet has contact with a bat, skunk, or other potentially rabid animal, contact your veterinarian promptly. If a wild animal may have had contact with a person or pet, do not handle or release it before receiving guidance because the animal may need to be tested for rabies.

For questions about possible human rabies exposure, contact Public Health at (209) 558-7700. For concerns involving wildlife or domestic animals, contact your local animal control agency. For more information about rabies, visit the California Department of Public Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rabies webpages.