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Rabid bat found near zoo restaurant sparks urgent public health warning: ‘Extremely serious’
A deceased wild bat discovered outside the Oasis on the Rocks restaurant at San Diego Zoo Safari Park on July 11 was confirmed to carry rabies following laboratory testing. Park authorities have issued a public health advisory and are requesting that any visitors who had physical contact with the bat come forward to assess whether medical intervention is necessary.
Health officials clarified that the risk to the broader visitor population is negligible, as rabies requires direct contact with infected tissue to transmit. The incident underscores standard wildlife precautions at public facilities and the importance of reporting encounters with unusual animal activity to park staff promptly.
In short
- Dead bat found outside San Diego Zoo Safari Park restaurant tested positive for rabies
- Health officials seeking anyone with direct contact; general visitors without exposure face no risk
Explained simply
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system and is usually spread when infected saliva or tissue enters the body through a bite, scratch or contact with broken skin or the eyes or mouth. Once symptoms begin, it is almost always fatal, but prompt medical treatment after a possible exposure can prevent illness.
Wild bats can carry rabies, and people may not notice a bite or scratch. Public health officials assess each possible contact to decide whether preventive treatment is needed; being near an infected animal without touching it does not generally count as exposure.