Yolo health officials urge rabies caution

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By Davis Enterprise staff - CA.

The Yolo County Health Department this week urged residents to be aware of the dangers of rabies in bats, as well as in other wild and domestic animals.

Bats are more likely to be infected with rabies than any other animal typically found in the county, the Health Department said. Almost all positive rabies tests in the county’s public health laboratory come from bats.

“We recognize that bats play an important beneficial role in the ecosystem,” said Bruce Sarazin, director of Yolo County Environmental Health. “However, bats are wild animals and we need to educate everyone about why it is unsafe to touch any wild animal.”

Bats migrate through the county from March through November. Some roost and breed in buildings. Residents who find a bat inside their homes are urged to report the incident to the Health Department.

County Health Officer Bette Hinton said bat bits or scratches are not uncommon.


“It happens all the time,” she said. “We had a recent exposure of a small child to a positive bat and have had several downed bats found recently.

“Our environmental health guys spend quite a bit of time trying to find animals that have bitten someone. In the case of bats, it is generally difficult to tell if they bit, scratched, et cetera, because their bite is so small. Any saliva on open wound … can transmit (rabies).”

Residents who believe they have been bitten or scratched by a bat — or any other wild animal or domestic animal unknown to them — should contact the Health Department or Yolo County Animal Services.

“If a person has been exposed to rabies, early medical treatment is critical,” Hinton said.

If a biting animal is loose or appears to be a stray, it is important to immediately contain it. Animal control employees are trained to do so. Residents should not try to contain such an animal themselves if there is any risk of injury.



If a cat or dog has captured or killed a bat, residents should contain the bat and contact the health department or animal services.

Rabies vaccinations for all domestic dogs, cats and other animals should be kept up to date. If a pet’s shot records are not up to date, the animal should be quarantined for testing.

To report bites by dogs, cats, pets, domestic stock or wild animals, call 666-8646 during business hours or 666-8900 at night or during weekends. Yolo County Animal Services can be reached at 668-5287.

For more about bats, see yolocounty.org/org/Health/bulletins/bats.asp