A bat carrying rabies was recently found in San Mateo, California, according to local health officials.
What’s happening?
The rabid bat was found in late October at the Portola Valley Town Center. Rabies is transmitted by saliva from the animal, so bites are a common point of entry, though breaks in skin and membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth can also be vulnerable.
Why is rabies important?
There’s an obvious safety concern when it comes to cases of rabies, but its presence is indicative of a larger issue.
Rapidly shifting weather patterns due to atmospheric pollution can be a major contributing factor to behavioral changes in wildlife. This can include shifts in migratory patterns that can exacerbate rabies presence in bats and its spread. After all, increased temperatures are expanding the available habitat for bats.
On top of these challenges is the degradation of natural habitat and the expansion of human land development. This deforestation pushes people into closer proximity to wild animals, increasing the chance for transmission. This not only puts humans at risk, but livestock as well. Studies in Mexico have reported $46 million in annual agricultural losses due to rabies infection…