New rabies cases detected in SLO County. How to avoid deadly disease
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- SLO County confirmed three rabies cases in 2025, all traced to wild bats.
- Public health officials urge rabies vaccinations for pets and livestock.
- Prompt post-exposure treatment prevents rabies, a disease fatal without care.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department urged residents to take extra precautions against rabies as cases of the deadly disease tick up across the county.
Three rabies cases have been reported in SLO County so far in 2025, county health officials said in a news release.
In 2024, a total of seven animals were diagnosed with rabies — a dramatic increase from past years, San Luis Obispo County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein told The Tribune.
The county is on track to reach an elevated number of rabies cases again this year, she said.
“Rabies is not just a threat in far-off places or only in wild animals,” Borenstein said in a news release. “It’s a real danger that can affect people right here in our community.”
Why are rabies cases rising in SLO County?
Rabies has only been detected in wild animals in San Luis Obispo County in recent years, Borenstein said, with bats being the sole carrier of the deadly disease in local cases.
“While the county hasn’t seen a case of rabies in a domestic animal for many years, these numbers underscore the importance of taking the risk seriously,” the news release said.
As of Friday, it was unclear why there has been a recent rise in rabies cases in San Luis Obispo County, she said.
According to Borenstein, some local organizations provide rehabilitation services for bats, which is one way the disease could be entering the county.
“We typically have one, maybe two (rabies) cases a year,” she said. “Last year was seven cases for 2024 and we’re on target to have a similar number this year. That is why we wanted to make people aware that rabies in animals is still occurring.”
What is rabies? How does disease spread?
Rabies is a viral disease that spreads to people and pets through scratches and bites from an infected animal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“That animal can be a skunk, a raccoon, a fox, but most typically, and in our county, we see rabies in bats,” Borenstein said.
The disease is “preventable but always fatal if left untreated,” the county public health department said.
Rabies inflicts the central nervous system, causing severe brain disease and death if medical attention isn’t sought out before symptoms begin, the CDC said.
Human cases of rabies are uncommon in the United States, with fewer than 10 human deaths from rabies reported each year, according to the CDC.
However, due to its high fatality rate, the disease poses “a serious public health threat,” the federal agency said.
What are common rabies symptoms in animals?
Here are clinical signs of rabies in animals, according to the CDC.
- Abnormal behavior
- Lethargy and weakness
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Self-mutilation
- Cerebral and cranial nerve dysfunction
- Paralysis and seizures
- Swallowing difficulties and excessive salivation
Am I at risk of contracting rabies?
Every rabies case that has been reported in San Luis Obispo County over the past decade has involved bats, Borenstein said.
“The population can come across bats in more rural areas,” she said, noting that the animals tend to hang out at open barns.
“Occasionally,” she added, a bat “can come into a household.”
People who work at organizations that take care of injured or ill bats that could also be at risk of contracting rabies, she said.
According to the CDC, about seven out of 10 Americans who die from rabies in the United States were infected by bats.
What’s the best way to avoid rabies?
Don’t pick up dead bats or play with wild animals, Borenstein said.
If you come across a bat that is dead or injured, San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Manager Eric Anderson advised residents to call Animal Services at 805-781-4400.
“Bats are one of the most common sources of rabies in California,” he said in the release. “Even if a bat looks dead or harmless, it may still carry the virus. Call us — we’re trained to handle it safely.”
What should I do if I’m exposed to rabies?
If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal who may have rabies, you should go to an emergency room for medical care within two days after being exposed to the disease, Borenstein said.
Rabies exposure treatment is called post-exposure prophylaxis. It includes wound care, a dose of human rabies immune globulin and a series of four to five rabies vaccines, according to the CDC.
About 60,000 Americans per year receive medical care after being exposed to rabies, with a 100% efficacy rate if it’s given promptly, the federal public health agency said.
How can I protect my pet against rabies?
County public health officials said residents should vaccinate pets and livestock against rabies to prevent the disease from spreading.
“Your animals are often your first protection against rabies,” Anderson said. “Vaccinating your animals not only protects them but also creates a barrier between you and this deadly virus. It’s a simple action that saves lives.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM.
