City health officials are advising residents to avoid bats, as one found in downtown Long Beach tested positive for rabies earlier this week.

The bat was discovered by a resident on Wednesday at Victory Park near Ocean Boulevard and Seaside Way. The resident did not touch the bat, but immediately notified Animal Care Services, which recovered the bat from the park and took it to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Laboratory for testing.

“The bat was identified as a Mexican Free-Tail bat, one of the most common species to be reported with rabies,” said City Health Officer Mitchell Kushner in a statement. “It is not known how long the bat had been at this location.”

Kushner said direct contact with any bat should be avoided, and if those who have been bitten or scratched by a bat, or have directly handled one, should seek medical attention immediately and report it to Animal Care Services.

Because rabies is a fatal disease of which there is no treatment, the Health Department suggests these additional tips to prevent risk of exposure to rabies:

• Teach your children to never touch unfamiliar animals – wild or domestic – even if they seem friendly;
• Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately;
• Request to have all bats tested for rabies if exposure to people or pets occurs (contact Animal Care Services);
• Prevent bats from entering homes, schools, churches and other similar areas where they might contact people and pets. For advice on “bat-proofing” your home, contact Animal Care Services; and
• Be a responsible pet owner by keeping rabies vaccinations current for all pets.

For more information on bats and rabies, call the City’s Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387 or visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.