Rabid Bat Bites Child Near Pittsburgh

PITCAIRN, PA – A bat that later tested positive for rabies bit at least one child in this small borough near Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny County Health Department warned Thursday that others may be at risk for contracting it.

A resident brought a bat captured April 19 near Second Street and Center Avenue in Pitcairn to the ACHD lab for testing on April 20. The bat was rabid.

In addition to one child being bitten, an investigation determined that several children might have handled the bat and passed it around. The child who was bitten was taken to a local hospital by a family member and received treatment. Treatment for rabies involves post-exposure rabies shots which must be administered before symptoms appear.

Pitcairn Police and health department officials contacted the parents of three other children who might have handled and-or been bitten by the bat to urge medical treatment. There may have been additional children handling the bat.

Any parent who believes that their child had encountered the bat is asked to call the health department.

The bat is the second animal to test positive for rabies in the county in 2021. A raccoon was identified as having rabies in January.