The Pueblo City-County Health Department in southern Colorado reports that a man has been hospitalized for rabies treatment after receiving a bite from a rabid bat.

The recent incident involves the second rabies positive bat the health department has encountered this year. The first was found on San Carlos Road, between La Lista and Starlight Roads, and is not believed to have had any contact with humans, according to a news release by the health department. Officials have been warning local residents to stay away from bats.

Dr. Christine Nevins-Woods, director of the Pueblo City-County Health Department, told the Pueblo Chieftain, “It is important for individuals to protect themselves and their pets from wild animals that may carry rabies.”

Rabies is commonly found in the bat population, but skunks, foxes and raccoons are also known to carry the disease. The county is encouraging pet owners to get their animals vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian. At the present time, rabies vaccinations for pets are mandatory in the area. However, vaccinations administered by unlicensed individuals are not considered valid in Colorado.

“Un-or-under vaccinated dogs and cats that are exposed to rabies have an extremely high chance of getting infected and dying from the disease,” Dr. Nevins-Woods told Fox 21 News in an interview following the discovery of the first confirmed case.

Individuals are encouraged to avoid feeding or approaching wild animals. Some infected animals may act strangely and be aggressive, but others can be timid and still carry the disease. Avoidance altogether is recommend by officials.

According to the health department, rabies is caused by a virus that is transmitted through the bite of animals infected by the disease. In bats, a bite might not be immediately visible on the animal. In fact, the bite may not be visible at all. Rabies is a disease that affects the brain. It can be transmitted from animal to animal or animal to human.

Pueblo county officials also report that the disease can be transmitted through animal scratches if saliva from the infected animal gets into the scratch or another open wound.

Statistics say about 55,000 people around the world will contract rabies and die every year. Half of that number is children under the age of 15.