HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Health officials have confirmed the rabies infection of a Harris County teenager and said he was likely infected by a rabid bat.

The Humble High School sophomore was being treated Wednesday at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston after showing symptoms last week. Rabies is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a news release.

Health officials believe the boy, who has not been identified, was infected several weeks ago when a bat flew into his open bedroom window and bit him while he was sleeping.

Meanwhile, school and health officials worked Wednesday to identify people exposed to the boy who may need preventive treatment. The treatment consists of a series of shots given in the arm as soon as possible after exposure may have occurred.

Humble school district spokeswoman Karen Collier said the boy’s girlfriend is receiving preventive treatment.

Collier said that students who participate in football or classes with the victim would be notified first. She said the district would hold informative seminars for students and parents.

Human rabies cases in the United States are rare.

The infection in Humble, which is located about 15 miles north of Houston, is the fourth human case of rabies in Texas since 2000 and the 43rd since 1950, according to the health department.

Since 2003, rabies has been detected in bats in 78 of the state’s 254 counties.

———

Information from: Houston Chronicle, www.chron.com