[UPDATED Aug. 21]

Austin Animal Services is currently searching for a boy approximately six-years-old that may have been exposed to the rabies virus after touching an infected bat.

The incident occurred on Aug. 18 around 9 p.m. under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge at Lady Bird Lake. The boy was reported to be wearing a green shirt and an observer noted the boy picked up the bat, according to a news release.

It may take several weeks or longer for people to show symptoms after being infected with rabies. The early signs of rabies can be fever or headache.Once someone with a rabies infection starts having these symptoms, that person usually does not survive. It is critical to talk to your doctor or health care provider right away if any animal bites you, especially a wild animal, according to a news release.

Animal Services announced Aug. 14 that nine bats have tested positive for the rabies virus in the past week.

Several people have come in contact with the bats, but no case of rabies in a human has been confirmed, according to the city statement.

The nine bats are part of the bat colony that lives beneath the Ann Richards Congress Avenue bridge, just south of Lady Bird Lake, where one of the largest Mexican Free Tail bat colonies in Texas resides. That also means Austin has the highest concentration of confirmed rabies infected bats in Texas, according to the city.

The announcement comes one week before the annual Bat Fest takes place August 23 on the bridge.

Austin Animal Services encourages people to avoid making contact with any bat if one is seen, even if it is lying on the ground and appears dead.