Kids played with a rabid bat at California park. Now officials are searching for them

Two kids were seen holding a bat at a California industrial park that later tested positive for rabies, officials said.

Riverside County health officials began searching for the children Wednesday, March 2, because they may have been exposed to rabies, Riverside University Health System Public Health said.

The two boys looked as if they were 11 or 12 years old and were riding bikes on Feb. 28, officials said. An adult said they saw the kids handling the bat in the parking lot of an industrial park in Corona.

“It is important that these children be seen by a health care provider because the potential for a serious health issue,” Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public health officer for Riverside County, said in a news release. “We ask parents and other guardians in the area to talk to their children and see if they might be the ones who handled the bat.”

Rabies can spread from animals to people if the person is bitten or scratched, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus infects a person’s central nervous system if they do not get medical care after they’re potentially exposed, the CDC said.

“The virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death,” the CDC said. “Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.”

This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 7:19 AM with the headline "Kids played with a rabid bat at California park. Now officials are searching for them."