Eleven of the 26 rabid bats found across Los Angeles County so far in 2013 have turned up in the Santa Clarita Valley.
With less than 3 percent of the county’s human population, having 42 percent of the county’s rabies cases seems a bit out of whack.
But we do, and it’s been that way for the past three summers.
County health officials are at a loss to explain why the number of rabies cases are on the rise. Statistics have been kept since the early 1960s, and just 8 to 10 (now they’re saying 8 to 12) cases turn up across the whole county in a “normal” year.
The most recent rabies carrier in the SCV was a bat found dead on the back patio of a Valencia home. Apparently a cat thought it was a fun toy. Luckily the cat was up-to-date on its rabies shots. The cat is being quarantined for 30 days. Had it not been vaccinated, it would have been subject to a 6-month detention and observation.
Here’s the latest info from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:
[Sept. 6] - So far in 2013, a total of 26 rabid bats have been found in Los Angeles County. This is the third year in a row we have detected an above-average amount. During most years in the past, we have found between 8 to 12 rabid bats per year.
Most bats in nature do NOT have rabies. Read more about it in the lower right section of this page.
1. Los Angeles. March. Sick bat on sidewalk. Sniffed, but not touched, by two leashed dogs.
2. Lancaster. March. Bat flew around outside residence in daylight, then settled onto the side of a house.
3. Los Angeles. April. Bat found at a school. Bat flew into a garbage can, then crawled underneath it. No children had contact.
4. Bell Gardens. April. Bat found alive clinging to a wall in the middle of the afternoon.
5. Canoga Park. May. Bat found in the afternoon on sidewalk outside of a store.
6. Stevenson Ranch. May. Bat found dead outside a home.
7. Santa Clarita. May. Bat found alive outdoors at a home.
8. Santa Clarita. June. Found dead in a backyard.
9. Palmdale. June. Found dead in a backyard.
10. Calabasas. July. Found in a home where four people and 2 cats were staying.
11. Porter Ranch. July. Bat found on ground at a church.
12. Saugus. July. Dog carrying bat around in its mouth at a home. Dog will be quarantined and observed for rabies.
13. Los Angeles. July. Bat found on floor on a front porch at a home.
14. Malibu. July. Bat found alive around on ground in a park.
15. Santa Clarita. July. Bat found weak but alive in a driveway outside a home.
16. Santa Clarita. July. Bat found weak but alive in a driveway outside a home (same place as bat #15).
17. Unincorporated area of Pasadena. July. Bat found alive outside a home.
18. Santa Clarita. August. Found alive in driveway. Covered with a bucket and Animal Control contacted.
19. Altadena. August. Bat found alive outdoors.
20. Covina. August. Bat found dead on a balcony.
21. Santa Clarita. August. Bat found clinging to side of garage.
22. Santa Clarita. August. Bat found dead next to pool.
23. Chatsworth. August. Bat found alive at a home.
24. Canyon Country. August. Bat found dead outdoors.
25. Valencia. August. Found dead on a back patio. Cat potentially exposed. Cat up-to-date on rabies vaccine. Will be re-vaccinated and quarantined for 30 days.
26. Northridge. August. Found alive in driveway. Hissed as resident approached.
SCV: 3% of County's Humans, 42% of County's Rabies
