08:32 AM PDT on Wednesday, August 27, 2003

By ELISA HAHN, KING Staff

A family camping trip turned into a medical emergency for a 6-year-old boy after a bat attacked and bit him at Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Lewis County.

Jordan Gerlt and his mother now want to warn anyone heading outdoors.

It's common to see bats at night, but this bat attacked in the middle of the afternoon – apparently one of the signs of rabies.

The four small bite marks on the back of Jordan's head are barely visible.

KING Jordan Gerlt

Jordan's mother, a former veterinary technician, knew what to do.

"I saw the fang marks and immediately thought, let's get it as quick as we can, so I threw the dog dish over it, put a plate under it, put it in a Ziploc bag, put it in our cooler and took it with us,” said Larissa Gerlt.

The Health Department warns bats are the animal most likely to be rabid in Washington state.

The bat that bit Jordan tested positive for rabies.

"We go out to have fun. We don't bother the wildlife, we respect it, and out of the blue this bat attacks,” she continued.

Rabid bats are often found near the ground and show unusual behavior, like daytime flight and activity.

Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread through bites from rabid animals. But it is treatable and can be prevented even after a bite through a series of vaccines.

After 10 hours at the hospital and four shots, with four more to go, young Jordan says he’s not worse for wear.

The Health Department says 13 people have been exposed to rabies this summer as a result of a bat bite.