Bats found with rabies in Fresno County, feral cats might be affected, officials say

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The County of Fresno is urging residents to take necessary precautions to protect themselves after finding bats that tested positive for rabies.

The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) says these bats that tested positive for rabies were found in Fresno and Reedley. They add the deceased bat found in Reedley might have been in contact with several feral cats before being secured and sent for testing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a preventable viral disease for mammals, most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, and can be fatal to humans if treatment is not received before symptoms appear.

The CDC says early symptoms can include weakness or discomfort, fever or headache, prickling or even itching at the bite site.

The county says no known human exposures have been reported at this time; however, they still urge residents to take necessary precautions to protect themselves, their families and pets. Those precautions include:

• Avoid contact with wild animals, including bats, raccoons, or any unfamiliar wildlife.
• Ensure pet vaccinations are current.
• Secure your home and seal any gaps that could allow wildlife to enter.
• Report unusual animal behavior. Examples include a sick or dead strat cat within the next 10 days or any wild animal acting strangely, such as a bat performing daytime activities.

Officials urge anybody who had contact with a bat, or if their pets did, to contact the FCDPH Environmental Health Division at 559-600-3357 for guidance. For the City of Reedley animal control, contact police dispatch at 559-638-2122.