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A 6-year-old girl in Wisconsin has been bitten by a rabid bat while climbing a tree outside her family’s home
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 23 in the village of Tigerton
Cece Kale’s mother, Elizabeth, said, “It’s terrifying. You know, you have all the thoughts run through your head of like, ‘What if I bury my child?’ ” per ABC affiliate WBAY
A 6-year-old girl is recovering after being bitten by a rabid bat in Wisconsin.
Cece Kale had been climbing a tree outside her family’s Tigerton home on Tuesday, June 23, when the incident occurred, according to outlets including ABC affiliate WBAY.
The bat wrapped its wings around Cece’s leg as she screamed for help, the station reported.
Stock photo of bat
Credit: Getty
“I tried to scream and scream and scream until they [her family] came,” Cece said, per WBAY and CNN.
One of Cece’s brothers ended up killing the animal with a makeshift sword, the outlets and Channel 3000 reported.
Cece’s mother, Elizabeth, recalled, “It’s like she was trying to scream, but nothing was coming out. So, she finally just, ‘There’s a bat!’ ” according to WBAY.
It was confirmed that the bat had rabies on Thursday, and Cece had the first of four rabies shots that day, the outlet noted.
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Elizabeth shared, “I think when you realize that your child probably has an ancient, old virus that’s 100% fatal, probably in her body. I mean, it’s, it’s terrifying. You know, you have all the thoughts run through your head of like, ‘What if I bury my child?’ ” per WBAY.
Stock photo of bat
Credit: Getty
The incident marked one of the first rabid bats discovered in the county in at least a year, the outlet stated.
Nick Mao, a health officer with the Shawano-Menominee County Health Department, said that if you are bitten, it’s important to “make sure we’re cleaning the affected area with soap and water and then calling your doctor or the emergency room right away,” WBAY reported.
Mao pointed out that rabid bats are very rare.
Mao didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges the public to “avoid touching bats.”
“Bat bites can be tiny, and you may not even know if you were bitten. If you do know that you were bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help right away. If bat saliva or brain material gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, see a healthcare professional urgently,” the health agency states on its website.
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