Bat on flight, CDC fears rabies risk (ajc.com)
Passengers on a Delta flight from Wisconsin to Atlanta last week are being urged to contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make sure they were not exposed to the rabies virus.
Officials are trying to determine if anyone came into contact with a bat found on Delta Flight 5121 from Madison, Wis., shortly after takeoff at 6:45 a.m. Aug. 5. The flight was operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
The CDC said the flight returned to the Madison airport after the bat began flying through the cabin. The bat made several passes before passengers were able to trap it in the airplane lavatory, but the animal got away before authorities could collect it. As a result, health officials were unable to test the bat to determine if it was rabid.
Officials now want to alert the 50 passengers on the flight about the possible risk. The CDC said it has been able to contact 14 passengers and is trying to reach 36 others…
(And this, people, is why you should give the airline your contact info when you check in. They might like to find you, for the exposure risk of measles, flu, TB… - m.)
