Teens sought after spotted playing with rabid bat

[Wolfie]

Two teens seen with rabid bat sought

The boys ran when a nurse saw them playing hacky sack with the infected animal

Associated Press

NEW BRAUNFELS - Comal County health officials were searching for two teenagers who were seen playing with a sick bat that tested positive for rabies.

The boys were using the bat instead of a bean bag in a game of hacky sack, in which players try to keep a bean bag off the ground by kicking it to each other, Comal County Health Department nurse Karon Preiss said.

The teenagers ran away after a nurse saw them, told them to stop and called Animal Control officers. The bat tested positive for rabies at the Texas Department of Health laboratory.

It was not known if the boys touched the bat with their bare hands or if they were bitten or scratched, the San Antonio Express-News reported Friday.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/m...politan/2886955

[Ken]

Definitely not funny.

Rabies isn't a joke, especially if one doesn't know he/she has it.

Once symptoms start, it's big big trouble.

[Wolfie]

IMO, it is if one is stupid enough to play hacky sack with a sick bat. Bats are known rabies carriers.

[Redneck4sure]

I thought that once the symptoms start it was fatal.

[Wolfie]

I thought that once the symptoms start it was fatal.

It is. The bat was probably at last stages when they were playing with it. That's why you never pick up bat that has fallen on the ground without leather gloves.

[Redneck4sure]

I never pick up a bat.

with or without gloves.

[DudeAsInCool]

Those kids must be batty

[Ken]

IMO, it is if one is stupid enough to play hacky sack with a sick bat. Bats are known rabies carriers.

In my opinion, it's a waste.

Their stupidity might be reversible, and it's a waste to let a human being die of rabies, which is inconceivably agonizing.