6-year-old girl bitten by rabid bat while playing outside her Wisconsin home, family says
NBC News • • health
Key Points:
- A 6-year-old girl, Cecilia Kale, is recovering after being bitten by a rabid bat outside her Wisconsin home; her brothers killed the bat with a homemade "Braveheart"-inspired sword.
- The bat tested positive for rabies, prompting Cecilia to receive life-saving post-exposure rabies shots within 48 hours, despite her family's general opposition to mandated immunizations.
- Rabies is almost always fatal if untreated, but a series of five vaccinations is nearly 100% effective; local health officials emphasize the importance of timely treatment and risk communication.
- The family remains committed to outdoor living and homeschooling their eight children, valuing a lifestyle connected to nature despite the presence of rabid bats in the area.
- Health officials note that rabid bat attacks on humans occur about once a year in the region and stress the importance of following medical guidelines for exposure.
