PASADENA, Calif.- The Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) has received a report of a third bat infected with rabies this year. The bat was found on E. Green Street, between S. Marengo Avenue and S. Euclid Avenue, on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Human rabies cases have not been reported, and the overall risk to the public remains low. PPHD urges the public to exercise caution around bats.

Several activities and events took place in the Civic Center District during the weekend the bat was found. People who attended events or were otherwise in the area from October 9-11 should consider whether they had direct contact with the bat found in the district. Being in the area or attending an event does not mean you were exposed to rabies.

"Anyone who had contact with a bat should speak with their medical provider as soon as possible," said Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health. "Pet owners who believe their pets may have had contact with the bat should contact an emergency veterinarian."

To help ensure public safety and reduce potential rabies exposure:

• Never handle bats with bare hands
• Report any injured, ill, or dead bats to local animal control or public health authorities

"Any contact by humans or pets with a rabid bat is a very serious health concern," said Dr. Parveen Kaur, Health Officer. "Rabies is a life-threatening disease that requires timely preventive medical treatment. To reduce risk, all contact with bats and other wild animals should be strictly avoided. Rabies can be transmitted through a bite or even a scratch from the tooth of an infected animal, posing a risk to both humans and animals. If skin contact with a bat occurs, wash the area immediately with soap and water and seek medical care."

If you see a dead or dying bat on the ground, do not handle it. Contact Pasadena Humane to collect the bat by calling (626) 792-7151. For more information on rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rabies website.