Ten rabid bats have been found in Santa Clarita so far this year, with three discovered in September alone, prompting a warning from public health officials.

Across Los Angeles County, 34 rabid bats have been found in 2019 — nearly one-third in the Santa Clarita Valley — with the most recent sighting after a live bat was left outside the front door of a Newhall veterinary clinic, according to the LA County Department of Public Health.

Public Health officials are seeking help from the community in locating anyone who may have touched or had contact with a rabid bat found in front of All Creatures Veterinary Center located at 22722 Lyons Avenue in Newhall on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

“The bat was left on a napkin on the doorstep of All Creatures Veterinary Center and tested positive for rabies,” Public Health officials said.

Any contact whatsoever with a rabid bat is a very serious health concern, according to health officials.

Rabies is a fatal disease and requires timely preventive medical treatment. Individuals who touched or may have had contact with this bat should seek medical treatment from their physician immediately, health officials said.

See Related: 25 Rabid Bats Discovered Within The Santa Clarita Valley In 2017

If a resident sees a dead or dying bat on the ground, they are advised by officials not to handle it, and to instead contact their local animal control agency to collect the bat for rabies testing. Any potential bat bites sustained by people or pets can be reported to Veterinary Public Health at 213-288-7060.

Although the vast majority of bats in nature do not have rabies, on average, 35 rabid bats (15-20 percent of bats tested) are detected in LA County each year, according to health officials.

Because rabies is a fatal illness and it is often not possible to visually determine if an animal has rabies, any contact with bats and other wild animals should be avoided. A scratch from a tooth or bite from a rabid animal could cause a rabies infection in people or other animals, according to officials.

For more information, visit the Veterinary Public Health website here.

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