长滩市确认2014年以来首例狂犬病阳性蝙蝠，卫生局提醒勿用手触碰
长滩市——长滩市卫生部门10月2日（周五）宣布，本市确认一只蝙蝠狂犬病检测呈阳性，这是长滩自2014年以来首次在本市检出狂犬病阳性的蝙蝠。据MyNewsLA援引城市新闻社（CNS）报道，这只蝙蝠经长滩公共卫生实验室于本周三检测确认携带狂犬病病毒。
市卫生官克利夫·冈田（Cliff Okada）博士表示，狂犬病可通过受感染动物的咬伤或抓伤传播给人及宠物，一旦发病几乎致命，但暴露后及时接种疫苗可有效预防。卫生局提醒市民，切勿用手直接触碰蝙蝠，无论其死活；如发现行为异常、倒地不起的蝙蝠，应保持距离并立即通报。
市民可拨打长滩动物照护服务中心电话562-570-7387报告蝙蝠或疑似暴露事件。卫生局同时呼吁宠物主人确认家中犬猫的狂犬病疫苗在有效期内，并避免让宠物接触野生动物。若有人被蝙蝠咬伤、抓伤，或醒来发现室内有蝙蝠，应尽快就医评估。
卫生专家介绍，蝙蝠是加州狂犬病最主要的野生动物宿主，健康蝙蝠通常昼伏夜出、避开人群，在白天出现在地面或室内的蝙蝠更值得警惕；不过，仅凭外观无法判断一只蝙蝠是否带毒，因此所有直接接触都应按暴露处理并咨询医生。长滩动物照护服务中心负责全市的动物管控、收容与野生动物求助，市民发现受伤或闯入室内的蝙蝠，也可拨打同一电话，工作人员会指导安全处置，切勿自行徒手捕捉。卫生局将在市政府网站与社区社交平台持续发布提醒，并呼吁学校与家长借此机会教育儿童：不认识的动物不要摸，看到蝙蝠要第一时间告诉大人。
图片来源：长滩市景，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 3.0，Terry Lucas
Long Beach Confirms First Rabies-Positive Bat Since 2014; Officials Urge Caution
LONG BEACH — Long Beach health officials announced on Friday, October 2, that a bat found in the city has tested positive for rabies — the first rabies-positive bat confirmed in Long Beach since 2014. According to MyNewsLA, citing City News Service, the bat was tested Wednesday by the Long Beach Public Health Laboratory and confirmed to carry the rabies virus.
City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada said rabies can spread to people and pets through bites or scratches from an infected animal; the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but prompt vaccination after exposure is highly effective. Officials urged residents never to handle a bat with bare hands, alive or dead, and to keep their distance and report any bat behaving strangely or found on the ground.
Residents can report bats or possible exposures to Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387. The health department also reminded pet owners to keep dogs' and cats' rabies vaccinations current and to keep pets away from wildlife. Anyone bitten or scratched by a bat — or who wakes to find a bat indoors — should seek medical evaluation promptly.
Health specialists note that bats are California's main wildlife reservoir for rabies. Healthy bats are nocturnal and avoid people, so a bat found on the ground or indoors during the day deserves extra caution — but appearance alone cannot show whether a bat carries the virus, so any direct contact should be treated as an exposure and discussed with a doctor. Long Beach Animal Care Services handles animal control, sheltering and wildlife calls citywide; residents who find an injured bat or one trapped indoors can call the same number for guidance and should never try to catch it bare-handed. The health department is repeating the advisory on the city website and community channels, and urges schools and parents to use the news to teach children the rule: never touch an unfamiliar animal, and tell an adult right away if you see a bat.
Photo: A fine day in Long Beach, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0, Terry Lucas
图片来源：图：夜间飞行的加州叶鼻蝠。摄影：Michael Durham（美国土地管理局），公有领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons
