Anyone know about the boy in Texax who got bit by a bat and

[Sequoia]

has rabies? Any word about his condition? Thanks.

[Beaverhausen]

1. I heard he died.

I will look for a link.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-13-rabies-death_x.htm?csp=34

Teenager infected with rabies dies in Texas

Posted 5/13/2006 2:52 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this

HOUSTON (AP) — A teenager stricken with rabies he likely contracted when a bat flew into his bedroom and bit him died Friday.

The Humble High School sophomore had been in an induced coma for several days at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, the Houston Chronicle reported in Saturday editions.

He began showing rabies symptoms last week. Doctors suspect the teen was infected several weeks earlier when a bat flew through his open bedroom window and bit him as he slept.

Health experts say bats' teeth are extremely small and sharp, so a person could be bitten and not realize it.

[babylonsister]

2. He died this weekend. Here's a link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0605140329may14,1,7688364.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[Sequoia]

8. Thank you. :(

[MissB]

3. I haven't heard of this at all.

Didn't some girl survive a bout with rabies? IIRC, they kept her in an induced coma for a long time.

[LeftyMom]

6. They tried the same treatment on him

but he had a different strain and his disease was more progressed when he sought treatment.

[babylonsister]

9. I heard on the news here he wasn't treated because he was too

advanced by the time he was diagnosed. And that girl is the only person who's ever survived a case of human rabies. :(

[BillZBubb]

4. Sorry, he died yesterday.

They got to the hospital too late.

[Sequoia]

5. Sad. Isn't it deadly to anyone; no cure?

In this day and age you'd think we could find an antidote.

[MissB]

7. There is treatment if you get in soon.

But once you get it, you're as good as dead. There is that one girl that survived, but I haven't heard anything about her recovery and lasting side effects.

[joneschick]

10. she's alive and well in Wisconsin

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/3858145.html

[BillZBubb]

11. Louie Pasteur (a Frenchman!) created a vaccine.

The problem is you need to be vaccinated before the symptoms appear. Unfortunately, the boy who died didn't go to the hospital until he was already suffering from dilusions. Too late. Only one person is known to have survived after reaching the overt symptom stage.

The problem with rabies is that it is a virus that hides itself well until it's too late. It's hard to find antidotes for viruses. HIV, rabies, the common cold, and the flu are all virus driven and they are all tough to control. Pasteur was way ahead of his time.

[maxfisher]

12. Afriend of mine's son died of rabies last year, in Mississippi.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi maxfisher!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Sequoia]

14. Do tell, and I thought it was just about peas.

[Blue Diadem]

15. I read that they will be treating about 30 of his classmates as a

precaution. I think his GF is already receiving treatment. That's really scarey.. it could be contained in saliva and if he kissed someone or shared a drink with other kids that there is a possibility the rabies could be transferred.

It's sad he didn't make it. The girl in Wisconsin was very lucky she survived.