A bat that flew into a person's hair in a San Marcos neighborhood Monday has tested positive for rabies, authorities said.
The person was outside near the 1900 block of Gibraltar Drive when the incident happened, according to a City of San Marcos news release. Authorities collected the bat and sent it to a laboratory in Austin, where it tested positive for the rabies virus.
Collection and testing is required following direct human contact with bats that may result in exposure to rabies, officials said.
The exposed individual is seeking medical care to prevent a rabies infection, which is almost always fatal once symptoms arise.
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"Any contact with a bat should be immediately reported to animal protection at 512-805-2655 so that the bat can be tested for rabies and medical treatment can be rendered as soon as possible, if necessary," the news release states. "Any bats that are found on the ground or in a dwelling should also be reported."
Rabies is a deadly virus that can infect humans through contact with the saliva of an infected animal. If addressed before the infection presents symptoms, including hallucinations, insomnia and seizures, treatment for rabies exposure is typically effective. Once symptoms present, the disease is fatal in 99 percent of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
City officials urge residents to double check their pets are up to date with required vaccinations, as according to law.
The Texas Hill Country has seen a spate of rabies infections this year. In neighboring Comal County, two feral cats tested positive for rabies last month.
In August, Kerr County announced the 14th rabies case of the year after an infected kitten bit a resident. The county also confirmed the disease in eight skunks, two raccoons, two foxes and a dog, who also bit a person.
In the U.S., wild animals like bats, raccoons and skunks are the most common carriers of the rabies virus.