Rabid Bat Startles Patrons At San Diego County Restaurant - Patch

What the report says

Patch reported that San Diego County public health officials are trying to identify anyone who may have had direct contact with a rabid bat found Sunday at Yellow Deli Restaurant in Vista, California. According to the county account cited by Patch, the bat landed on a table while a family was eating at about 1 p.m.

A diner reportedly used a towel to pick up the bat and took it to the San Diego Humane Society in Oceanside. The animal was then transferred to the county Public Health Lab, where it tested positive for rabies. Officials said no direct skin contact with the bat has been reported so far, and that only people who touched or held the bat are considered at risk for exposure.

Health officials urged anyone who had direct contact with the bat, or who knows someone who may have, to contact a health care provider promptly. Patch reported officials’ warning that rabies post-exposure treatment is highly effective if given before symptoms begin, while the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.

The case marks the 22nd bat in San Diego County to test positive for rabies this year, compared with 21 in 2025, according to Patch. Officials also reminded residents not to handle bats or other wildlife and to wash any exposed area with soap and seek medical advice after contact. Patch noted that bats are a common rabies source in California, though human infections remain rare.