A bat discovered near a sidewalk in a California neighborhood has tested positive for rabies, according to local health officials.

The positive test result has prompted health authorities to issue advisories urging area residents to avoid contact with wildlife, particularly bats and other animals that may carry the virus.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected animals. Bats are among the most common carriers of rabies in the United States.

Health officials typically recommend that residents never handle bats or other wildlife directly and to contact animal control authorities if they encounter potentially infected animals in residential areas.