AI Image
Rabies concerns grow after record number of infected bats found in Los Angeles
FOX Weather • • health
Key Points:
- Los Angeles County reported a record 76 rabies-positive bats in 2026, exceeding the previous high of 69 in 2025, with 24 confirmed cases in August alone.
- The county confirmed its first rabid raccoon since 1973 in September, found in Westlake Village, raising concerns about potential transmission to pets and humans.
- Rabies cases in California have increased significantly, with 314 bats testing positive in 2025 compared to 229 in 2024, and a similar rise noted in Santa Cruz County.
- Health officials emphasize the importance of keeping pets vaccinated against rabies and advise residents to avoid contact with bats, reporting any found in homes or public areas.
- Rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting the central nervous system, transmissible through bites or scratches, and early symptoms in humans include fever and headache before progressing to severe neurological issues.
