Fresno County reports first human rabies death in over 30 years after bat bite

A Fresno County resident has died from rabies after likely being bitten by a bat, marking the first human case in the area in over 30 years. The individual was treated in a hospital but succumbed to the disease shortly after symptoms appeared. The exposure likely occurred in mid-October while the person was working in Merced County. Health officials are assessing potential exposure risks for others who may have come into contact with the patient. Rabies is a rare but fatal disease in humans, with no cure once symptoms develop. California has reported 169 rabies cases in animals this year, with three in Fresno and Merced counties combined.