Public health officials are hoping to get in touch with the person who handled a bat with rabies in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

Vancouver Coastal Health says the person may need a vaccination after handling the bat on Aug. 26 near Lost Lagoon.

The most recent human case of rabies in B.C. linked to a bat strain of the virus was in 2003 and it was fatal.

Since rabies — a disease that affects the central nervous system — is found in bats in British Columbia, health authorities advise the public to avoid handling bats.

Dr. Cori Lausen, a bat research biologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, said that while it's not unusual to find bats in urban area, it's rare for humans to pick up or handle bats.

Lausen, who is based in Kaslo, B.C., said on average in North American only one in 1,000 bats contract the rabies virus, but people should not touch a bat that's on the ground.

Bats 'don't roost on the ground' says biologist

"Generally the rule of thumb is ... if a bat's on the ground, something's wrong with it because bats don't roost on the ground," Lausen said, adding that if people do need to touch a bat, they should not have skin to skin contact.

Rabies can be transmitted to humans via bats when its saliva comes into contact with a person's mucus membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) or through a break in the skin.

The majority of human contact with bats occurs between July and September when bats are most active and juveniles are weaned.

People who have been bitten or scratched by a bat or have handled a bat should immediately:

Thoroughly wash the injured area and hands with soap and water, using lots of water to flush the wound

Seek medical attention right away.

Have a wildlife expert capture it and contact health authorities at 604-675-3900 to have it tested for rabies.

In the Lower Mainland, injured bats can be reported to the Wildlife Rescue Association at 604-526-7275.

On the Sunshine Coast, injured bats can be reported to the Gibsons Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at 604-886-4989.