A baby bat was found at the place where she is working this summer. A well-intended but misguided effort was mounted to save the little bugger. Sadly, it died. Because of the summer heat, the bat was too decomposed for the state lab to test it for Rabies. As a result, 14 children are undergoing a series of post-exposure prophylaxis shots.
The bat didn't bite anyone, but the kids were exposed.
RABIES IS FATAL IN PEOPLE.
To be safe, all the kids who directly handled the little guy had to be protected in case the virus made it into their system through the cuts and scratches that kids at camp wear like badges of honor. With the shots, they should all do fine.
The moral of this story is that
1) bats carry Rabies, even baby bats.
2) kids aren't immune to Rabies even if they have veterinary parents
3) even smart people can have impaired thinking when there are helpless babies involved.
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Even if they look healthy. Even if they look tame.
These are wild animals. Do not pet them. Do not feed them.
If they are acting not-so-wild, assume the worst and avoid them!
Call animal control if they are suffering or in a position to hurt somebody.
If you do get bitten, confine the animal if possible, and call animal control immediately.
Cleanse your bite wound thoroughly and get yourself to a doctor right away for care.
If the animal is available for testing, you probably won't have to have shots. If they cannot test the animal that bit you, or if it tests positive for Rabies, you MUST get the shots.
It's not just about you coming down with Rabies, but also about the rabid version of you infecting your family, and the nice nurses and doctors in the hospital where you will be taken if you come up with weird neurologic symptoms in a few weeks or months.
So don't be a hero, and don't be stupid.
Here are a couple of case reports from the CDC website. Scary, true stories.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm
www.drjudyo.com
