Rabid Bat Found In Popular San Diego Park

San Diego County health officials are looking for anyone who may have come into contact with a rabid bat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park reports KGTV.

The bat was found in the Mombasa Island Pavilion on Friday, June 25, and was collected by a park employee. According to County News Center, no human contact with the bat has been reported as of June 27.

The bat was not part of the park's collection of animals. It was delivered to the county on June 25. When the bat was tested, it was confirmed to have rabies.

This is the second rabid bad found in San Diego County this year, reports KGTV.

“Human rabies is usually fatal without prompt post-exposure vaccine and treatment,” said County public health officer Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. “There has been no reported human or animal contact with this bat, but it was found in an area where many park visitors pass by, and we want to make sure that no one had contact with it."

According to health officials, rabies transmission can occur from a bat bite, or if a bat's saliva comes into contact with a cut, abrasion, or mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Anyone who made contact with the bat should call the County of San Diego Health and Human Services agency at 619-692-8499.