In Alameda County, health officials are warning the public that a bat with rabies was found on a Fremont sidewalk. This is one of several cases so far this year across the Bay Area. The warning signs are up in one Fremont neighborhood. A dead bat was found on the sidewalk near Palo Verde Common i n the city’s Warm Springs neighborhood. The Mexican free-tailed bat tested positive for rabies. Alameda County Vector Control immediately started spreading the word, handing out flyers and posting them around the area where the bat was found. “It’s extremely uncommon. Typically, you would need close exposure to a rabid animal that actually bites you,” said Dr. Abraar Karan, Stanford University infectious disease faculty. Dr. Karan explains that while rabies in humans is unusual, without medical treatment it can be deadly. But in the rare instance you’ve been bitten by a rabid animal, it’s crucial you get a series of shots. “The sooner you seek treatment, the better. Typically, we say as soon as possible, but even if it’s been a few days, even if it’s been longer than that, and if you’re concerned, you should still come in,” said Dr. Karan. According to California’s Department of Public Health, there have already been several other cases of bats with rabies across the Bay Area this year. “Bats provide a service. They’re important in the environment, but they should be respected and left alone. Don’t handle them, because that’s how you get in trouble,” said Marty Buxton, a volunteer who leads Walnut Creek’s Lindsay Wildlife Hospital bat rehabilitation program. Buxton says it’s a red flag to see a bat that is hanging around close to humans. “If you can touch it, it means that it’s either sick or injured. Healthy bats are not going to sit around and allow themselves to be touched,” said Buxton. Alameda County says no people or animals are known to have been exposed to the bat found on that sidewalk in Fremont. But if you think you or your pets might have been bitten, you should contact the county health department or Fremont Animal Services immediately. County Vector Control also advises the public not to touch or handle bats and to get the rabies vaccine for your pets, especially pets who spend a lot of time outside. ...read more read less