EL PASO, Texas -- Health officials said five bats have tested positive for rabies in El Paso this year. A child came in contact with the latest case.

"We did this week have a child who picked up a bat and was assumedly bitten," said Public Health Director Michael Hill. "So that child is getting preventative rabies shots."

Hill said the vaccinations are expensive, but less than 1 percent of humans infected with rabies survive. So he said it is better to be cautious.

"If you think you've been exposed, you need to see your physician and probably get the preventative shots," said Hill.

He said 10 to 15 percent of bats in the area are rabid. Animal services does test every bat that is found.

"It's just not good odds," said Hill. "So stay away from bats. Don't pick them up if you find them."

He said that often people think they are rescuing a grounded bat when they are actually putting themselves at risk.

"I've been involved in human rabies cases and watched kids die," said Hill. "It's very ugly. You don't want to go through that, and you don't want to watch someone you love go through that."