This news update is brought to you by the City of Long Beach. To find out more about City programs, projects, initiatives and services, please visit longbeach.gov. To find events near you, please visit the City calendar at www.longbeach.gov/events. And follow us on social media @longbeachcity.
Health Officials Report Rabies-Positive Bat Found in Long Beach
By Staff Writer
Published on Wed, Oct 21, 2026
Health officials are warning Long Beach residents to steer clear of bats after one recently tested positive for rabies.
The rabies-positive bat was tested Sept. 30, marking the first confirmed case in Long Beach since 2014. While rabies-positive bats are found in Los Angeles County every year, the virus can be deadly to people and pets.
Even a small, unnoticed bite can spread rabies.
City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada reminds residents that the most important rule is simple: Never touch a bat or other wild animal and never allow pets to interact with them.
Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that infects the brain. Once a person or animal is infected with the rabies virus and begins to show symptoms, it is almost always fatal; however, prompt medical treatment after a possible exposure can prevent the disease.
Here’s what residents should know:
- Found a bat? Don’t touch it! If you can do so safely, cover it with a box or container and contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387, available 24/7, for guidance.
- Think you may have been exposed? Rabies exposure can happen through a bite, scratch or wound, or through the eyes, nose or mouth. Bat bites can be very small and may feel like a pinprick, so they may go unnoticed, particularly by a person, child or pet who is sleeping. Seek medical care immediately.
- Are your pets protected? Make sure dogs and cats, including indoor pets, are up to date on rabies vaccinations. Contact Animal Care Services if your pet encounters a bat.
Residents can also help keep bats out of their homes by sealing small openings, covering vents with sturdy mesh and maintaining window screens and chimney caps.
The risk is worth taking seriously: In recent years, about 17% of bats encountered by people or pets in Los Angeles County have tested positive for rabies, with positivity rates rising as high as 33% in late summer, according to Los Angeles County Public Health.
For more information about rabies, animal bites or possible exposure, contact the Long Beach Health Department’s Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control program at 562-570-4302.
