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Source: County News Service
October 12, 2014 (San Diego)--The County’s Health and Human Services Agency is asking for the public’s help to identify people who may have been exposed to rabies during the Del Mar Mud Run at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 4.
A runner said that a bat had landed on him during the run. The bat was captured and submitted to the County for rabies testing, and the County Public Health Laboratory confirmed the bat was infected with rabies.
County health officials are concerned that the runner and other people may have directly handled the rabid bat. Anyone who knows the identity of the runner who discovered the bat or anyone who believes they were potentially exposed to the bat are urged to contact the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency as soon as possible at (619) 692-8499.
Health officials would like to interview anyone who may have come in contact with the bat as soon as possible to determine if they were potentially exposed to rabies. Event participants and observers that had no contact with the bat are not at risk for rabies.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Although rare, transmission may also occur if the saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or open wound. Symptoms of rabies in people can take weeks or even months to develop after exposure to a rabid animal has occurred.
Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, prompt treatment following exposure to the virus will prevent the disease.
For more information about rabies and bats, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
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