A rise in the number of rabies-carrying bats in Riverside County prompted health officials on Wednesday to remind residents to take extra precautions to avoid contact with the creatures to prevent any risk of infection.

The Riverside University Health System’s Office of Public Health said the possibility of a bat bite should not be dismissed as ghoulish Halloween humor, but taken seriously.

“Rabies is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear,” Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said. “While rabies is extremely rare in humans in California, exposure through bat bites is a serious concern. Bites from a bat can be painless and may not leave marks, so it’s important to seek immediate care if you awaken to a bat in your home.”

The year-to-date tally of rabies-infected b

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