This is a new one:

The information below is from the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009

The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment (EPCDHE) is working with Eagleview Middle School to identify any student who may have had physical contact with a bat that was found near the school on War Eagle Drive after school on Monday, September 21, 2009.

Bats can carry a disease called rabies. The bat found in the neighborhood has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have been bitten or scratched by this bat is at risk for getting rabies.

An announcement was made to Eagleview students this afternoon (Sept. 24) asking them to report to their teacher or principal if they had any physical contact with the bat. We are sending this 20Alert to ask for your assistance to talk to your child about whether they had contact with a bat. We also ask you to remind your child to not touch animals that can possibly carry disease.

If your child had any contact with a bat on Monday September 21, or if they know of anyone who may have had contact with the bat, please call the health department at 339-3230.

"The number of rabies-related human deaths in the United States has declined from more than 100 annually at the turn of the century to one or two per year in the 1990's."

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about.html

" rabies is now the second rarest disease in the United States and Canada, behind polio"

http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/BatsRabies1.htm

Holy Bat Saliva Kylah!! I hope your kids didn't come anywhere near it!!

No, my daughter doesn't go there anymore. She's a hotshot high-schooler this year. They just send that out to everyone in the district. That's good to know, Scott!

I'm curious on who found the bat and who had it tested. The health department only tests animals for rabies if someone or someone's pet gets bit. If nothing got bit they will charge you $65.00 to test it.

It sounds like maybe some kids found it? I have no idea.

That was a strange note to receive! Did it cause panic among the parents?

I'm not sure what the circumstances were behind it since my daughter doesn't go there anymore but I asked her if she had heard anything (from someone's younger brother or sister maybe) and she said she had not.

I WAS BORN IN EL PASO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's El Paso County in Colorado Springs LOL

Wow that IS strange!! Glad your daughter doesn't go there any more! I wouldn't be surprised if a kid was messing with the bat. Would be interesting to find out more about the circumstances!


(couldn't resist)