Bat that bit river runner found to be rabid

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — The National Park Service says a bat that bit a river runner in Grand Canyon National Park has been found rabid and the man who was bitten will need to receive rabies treatment.

The incident happened Tuesday at Lees Ferry when the bat flew into the river runner's shirt, which was lying next to him as he was loading his boat with supplies.

When the river runner put his shirt back on, the bat bit him on the left hip.

The bat was captured, euthanized and submitted for testing and the Arizona State Health Lab determined Wednesday the bat had rabies.

Since the river runner had continued with his trip, the National Park Service evacuated him by helicopter out of the canyon Thursday.

The Park Service says the victim was expected to undergo further testing at a Flagstaff medical facility.

In the United States, the treatment consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period.

Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by a health care provider as soon as possible after exposure.