Quote:
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Brown said there is no way to test for rabies in a live wild animal because brain tissue must be examined.
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As far as I know (
and confirmed by Wikipedia) rabies is present in saliva. Rabies is transmitted most commonly through bites, which is why rabid animals are "abnormally aggressive" -- the virus makes them aggressive so they bite and spread the disease. It would stand to reason then that they could tranquilize the bears and test them.
Also, the child would get a rabies vaccine regardless of whether or not one of the bears was rabid. I got one when my friend's dog bit me even though the dog was vaccinated and I had been inoculated as a child.
EDIT: Or, at the expense of the parents, tranquilize the bears and withdraw a piece of their brain with a needle. If it can be done on humans, it can be done on bears. Sure, it may be expensive, but the parents can foot the bill. Afterall, it was their stupidity in not watching their child that led to this mess. This may just be me being angry at the situation though.
-Tamerlain