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A dead bat found floating in a swimming pool in Sutter tested positive for rabies, Sutter County officials reported.
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The bat was discovered July 26 in the 2600 block of California Street in Sutter, which is about 50 miles north of Sacramento, officials said in a news release Friday.
Sutter animal services workers collected the bat and the Sacramento County Public Health Lab found it tested positive for rabies.
One adolescent possibly had contact with the bat, officials said.
Here’s what to know about rabies:
What is rabies?
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease that primarily affects the central nervous system, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
It can be spread to humans and animals through bites and scratches from an infected animal.
Each year, about 100,000 people in the United States are inoculated with the rabies vaccine after being exposed to the disease, the CDC said.
People exposed to rabies receive four to five shots of the vaccine, which is nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease from developing.
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Initial symptoms of rabies include flu-like illness including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache, and discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite.
Within two weeks, later symptoms may include anxiety, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, being very thirsty but panicked by fluids, having lots of saliva and aggressive behavior like thrashing and biting.
Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.
Rabies is commonly found in bats, raccoons, skunk and foxes.
If you or a pet are exposed to rabies, seek urgent medical care immediately.
How can you protect yourself from rabies?
“Never approach animals who appear to be injured, sick, or dead, especially if you see animals during the day who are usually active at night,” the CDC advised.
Pet owners can reduce risks by keeping their pets up to date on their rabies vaccines and keeping them away from wildlife.
Rabies in dogs is still common in some nations. When traveling overseas, find out if rabies is prevalent and keep your distance from wild animals and unfamiliar dogs and cats.
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