10-year-old being treated for rabies; Several may have touched bat.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Kim Ring

SPENCER - Health officials are warning anyone who may have touched a bat found at Luther Hill Park on Tuesday to consult with their doctor immediately, as the bat had rabies.

A 10-year-old child who was bitten by the bat is undergoing treatment but, Health Agent Lee Jarvis said, there were reports that several other children may have touched it and could have been exposed to the deadly virus.

"What we were told was that the bat fell from a tree into the water," Mr. Jarvis said. Someone retrieved the bat and brought it to shore where several children gathered around. Some of the children reportedly were "petting" the bat.

The bat was sent out for testing and was found to have rabies.

Mr. Jarvis said he placed a reverse call to every residence in Spencer yesterday but there may have been people who did not receive the message.

Treatment for exposure to rabies includes a series of injections over a period of several days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva or the tissue from the brain or nervous system of an infected animal and a person can only get rabies by coming in contact with these specific...