California reported two rabies incidents involving humans this month, and a third animal tested positive earlier in May. But just how common is the virus that, once symptoms appear, is almost always fatal?
While rabies in humans is very rare in the United States, public health officials advise residents and visitors, especially those with young children to be on the lookout for infected wildlife when out in nature.
Earlier this month, public health officials in Humboldt County reminded residents not to handle bats after three children were treated for rabies exposure in two separate incidents, one in Manila, the other in Arcata. Bats from both of the incidents tested positive for the rabies virus.
Exposure to infected bats can be especially tricky
to notice, public health officials warn, with children most at risk.
When Yosemite National Park announced last week that a bat they caught in May tested positive for rabies, they warned that "bat bites and scratches can be very small and may not always be visible or painful."
Direct contact can also entail a bat touching the top of one's clothing or a wing brushing the skin or hair. The National Park Service (NPS) advised that "any direct contact with a bat, alive or dead, should be discussed with a healthcare provider."
While no human contact with the "dead big brown bat found outside the Curry Village Showerhouse on May 18," was reported, according to the NPS, anyone who believes they may have done so should seek attention from a healthcare provider and contact the California Department of Health, which is working with the National Park Service on the case.
The last rabies-positive bat discovered at Yosemite was in July 2025.
Rabies exposure often comes from wildlife, bats
Before the 1960s, dogs were a "common reservoir" of rabies in the United States, according to a CDC report analyzing human rabies deaths and exposure between 1938 and 2018.
However, due to the widescale adoption of canine vaccination and leash laws starting in 1947, rabies control improved nationwide, the CDC found, so that by the late 1960s, fewer than 500 rabid dogs and three human rabies cases were reported annually.
Now when rabies cases involving humans occur, they are generally due to exposure from infected wildlife.
Animals most likely to transmit rabies, include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks, and in the United States, bats are the most likely culprit.
Among the 89 cases of humans acquiring rabies in the United States between 1938 and 2018, per the CDC report, 70% were caused by infected bats.
According to the National Park Service, less than 1% of bats in nature have rabies, "but bats that act strangely or contact humans are up to 10 times more likely to have rabies."
How to spot and prevent rabies exposure
Before heading out into nature, we understand we have to run through a mental checklist that includes mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and extra water. To protect ourselves and others from possible rabies exposure, public health officials advise the following.
- Fully vaccinate all domestic animals against rabies, including dogs (which is a state law), cats and select livestock.
- Avoid contact with wild and stray animals. Alive or dead.
- Bring pet food indoors at night.
- Report animal bites to a county or municipal animal control officer.
- If bitten, wash the bite immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.
- When camping, ensure housing and overnight dwellings (tents or cabins) are sealed off from the outdoors.
- Make sure there are no small openings through which bats or other wildlife can enter. If this is not possible, sleeping under mosquito nets may prevent bats from contacting sleeping persons.
- Educate children to keep away from wildlife and stray animals.
- Any direct contact with a bat, alive or dead, should be discussed with a healthcare provider
What happens if you're exposed to rabies? Treatment can prevent infection
Rabies is one of the deadliest viruses known, but it is also one of the most preventable after an exposure. Here's what to know:
- Seek medical care immediately after any potential rabies exposure, including bites, scratches or direct contact with a bat.
- Wash wounds right away with soap and water.
- Treatment, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), typically includes:
- Rabies immune globulin (for unvaccinated people)
- A series of rabies vaccine shots over several weeks
- PEP is highly effective when given promptly after exposure.
- Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
- Early symptoms can resemble the flu, then progress to confusion, hallucinations and difficulty swallowing.
- Because bat bites and scratches can be tiny and hard to detect, health officials recommend consulting a healthcare provider after any direct contact with a bat, even if no bite is visible.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California rabies incidents renew focus on a rare deadly virus
