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San Diego Zoo Safari Park bat tests positive for rabies, prompting warning
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- A wild bat found deceased outside the Oasis on the Rocks restaurant at San Diego Zoo Safari Park on July 11 tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to urge visitors who had direct contact with the bat to seek evaluation.
- The bat was not part of the park's animal collection, and no human contact has been reported so far; this is the 19th bat testing positive for rabies in San Diego County in 2026, compared to 21 in all of 2025.
- Rabies is a nearly 100% fatal viral disease if untreated early, and officials are investigating to ensure anyone exposed receives prompt care before symptoms develop.
- Wildlife experts emphasize that while bats are beneficial to the environment by controlling insect populations, people should never handle bats with bare hands due to the risk of rabies transmission.
- In case of suspected contact with a bat, individuals are advised to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and contact local authorities rather than touching the animal.
