Three Humboldt County children have received rabies exposure treatment over the past two weeks following separate encounters with bats in Manila and Arcata. Both animals subsequently tested positive for the virus, prompting public health officials to issue warnings regarding wildlife contact.
Public health leaders in Northern California are urging residents to avoid handling bats after two distinct animal encounters required preventative medical care for three children. The Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services reported on Friday afternoon that the incidents occurred within a two-week window, affecting young residents in the Manila area and along the Sunset Avenue neighborhood of Arcata.
One incident took place in Manila and the other incident took place in the Sunset Avenue neighborhood of Arcata. Both bats involved subsequently tested positive for the rabies virus,
a post on the DHHS Facebook page stated.
Laboratory testing confirmed that both bats involved subsequently tested positive for the rabies virus. Local health officials noted that rabies remains a constant presence within wild animal populations across the county.
Wildlife Risks and Public Health Warnings Across Humboldt County
While local wildlife surveillance data shows no reported cases of rabies among local wildlife in 2024, the last year for which data is available from the California Department of Public Health, the virus is perpetually circulating. The 2023 report had one reported case of rabies in a fox locally.
Experts say rabies is always present in the wildlife population throughout Humboldt County, especially among bats, skunks and foxes,
the post stated.
Nationwide, bat encounters represent the primary vector for human cases. Bat exposure is the leading cause of U.S. human rabies cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accounting for 83% of cases, according to a 2024 report.
Recommended Prevention and Immediate Medical Protocol
Health authorities emphasize that community members should maintain distance from wild and stray creatures. “Preventive measures include avoiding contact with wild and stray animals, bringing pet food indoors at night, reporting animal bites to your county or municipal animal control officer, and if you are bitten, washing the bite immediately with soap and water and seeking medical attention,” the post stated.
Anyone who sustains a suspected exposure must act quickly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges reaching out to healthcare officials immediately after exposure.
“Anyone with a possible bat exposure, even in the absence of a recognized bite, should immediately report the encounter to a health care provider or to public health officials for risk assessment, consideration of options for bat testing, and PEP administration, if indicated. Increased awareness of the potential risk for rabies after any bat interaction, even without a visible bite wound, might help prevent deaths,” the CDC states.
Residents who experience a direct bite are instructed to wash the wound immediately using soap and water before seeking medical care. Public health officials stress the importance of fully vaccinating domestic animals against rabies, including dogs, cats and select livestock. The post noted that it’s also important to vaccinate domestic animals — including pet cats and dogs as well as some livestock — against rabies.
Dogs and cats are naturally curious and will often approach a wild animal that they find. If your pet finds or catches a bat, call local animal control to collect the bat,
the CDPH website states.
Individuals seeking guidance on animal safety or wishing to report a rabid animal can contact the DHHS Division of Environmental Health by calling 707-445-6215 or toll-free at 1-800-963-9241.
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