Rabid bat is found in O.C.

Orange County health officials are looking for anyone who may have come into contact with a bat at a park in Irvine that tested positive for rabies over the weekend.

The bat was found Saturday on a picnic bench near a restroom at William Mason Regional Park, according to Orange County Health Care Agency officials. They say the animal has tested positive for rabies and that anyone who may have come into contact with it is at risk of being infected with the virus.

The virus is found in an animal’s saliva and is transmitted to people by a bite, health officials said in a statement.

“Although very rare, contamination of the eyes, mouth or an open wound by the saliva of a rabid animal can also transmit rabies,” the statement read in part.

Officials said once a person begins to show signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal.

“For that reason preventive treatment to stop the rabies virus from causing illness is given to anyone who may have been exposed to rabies,” the statement read.

Anyone who may have had contact with the bat found in the park is urged to call the health agency’s epidemiology department at (714) 834-8180 during business hours, or at (714) 8347792 after hours.