People were attacked and bitten by a beaver in a New Jersey park. Animal control captured the beaver, which tested positive for rabies.
TAKEAWAYS:
- A record number of HIV-positive bats have been detected in Los Angeles County.
- 76 bats tested positive for rabies in 2026, surpassing the previous record.
- In August, 24 rabid bats were confirmed in Los Angeles County.
- Los Angeles County health officials also confirmed a raccoon carrying rabies.
A record number of HIV-positive bats have been detected in Los Angeles County, prompting public health officials to urge residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from the potentially deadly virus.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed that 76 bats tested positive for rabies in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 69 in 2025.
Los Angeles County has seen a steady upward trend in rabid bat detections.
(Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe/Getty Images)
“Bats are an important part of our environment, but they can become infected and spread rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear,” said Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis, MD, MPH.
In August alone, 24 rabid bats were confirmed in Los Angeles County. Nearly a third, or 32 percent, of bats tested for rabies by residents during this period tested positive.
A record number of HIV-positive bats have been detected in Los Angeles County.
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According to the Department of Health, Los Angeles County has seen a consistent upward trend in rabid bat detections for more than a decade.
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In 2025, 314 bats tested positive for rabies in California, compared to 229 in 2024, an increase of about 37%.
In a public health advisory issued Oct. 13, Santa Cruz County officials also warned of a concerning increase in exposures to rabid or potentially rabid animals, including bats.
In August, 24 rabid bats were confirmed in Los Angeles County.
(Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)
Locally, nine bats had tested positive for rabies in Santa Cruz County as of September 25, compared to three positive bats in 2025.
“Keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations is important to protect both animals and people. Both dogs and cats should be vaccinated,” said Dr. Maris Brenn-White, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter veterinarian. “Vaccinated pets provide an important second level of defense against rabies for pet owners and other people.”
Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed the presence of a rabies-carrying raccoon in Westlake Village.
(Marijan Murat/photo alliance via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
Adding to concerns, Los Angeles County health officials confirmed the presence of a rabies-carrying raccoon in Westlake Village in September. It was the first detection of a rabid raccoon in the county since 1973.
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The raccoon was found in a residential yard, where a dog may have had direct contact with the animal. The dog was up to date with his rabies vaccination and was placed in quarantine.
Four people at a construction site may also have been exposed to the raccoon and were receiving recommended follow-up care.
In the United States, approximately 1.4 million people seek medical attention each year after contact with an animal, and approximately 100,000 people receive PEP for rabies.
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Authorities said the raccoon may have contracted the virus from a bat.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It can spread to people and pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal and through infected saliva getting into an open wound or into the eyes, nose, or mouth.
rabies vaccination.
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In some cases, a person may not realize they have been bitten or scratched, such as by a bat, which has small teeth that may leave no mark.
Rabies remains a major public health problem worldwide, causing tens of thousands of deaths each year.
The first symptoms in people may include fever, weakness and headache. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include tingling or itching at the site of exposure, anxiety, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, and difficulty swallowing.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed that 76 bats tested positive for rabies in 2026.
(Cris Faga/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.
GOATS TESTED POSITIVE FOR RABIES AS OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPOSED
Health officials are now urging residents not to touch or handle bats and to report any bats found inside homes or in areas where people or pets may have come into contact with them.
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