WFAA-TV

ARLINGTON — State health officials have issued a rabies warning for a section of southern Arlington.

A 13-year-old boy this week tested positive for the disease after he found an infected bat near his home in the city's 76001 zip code.

This is Tarrant County's first confirmed case of a bat infected with rabies since August 2007.

Left untreated, rabies is always fatal, according to Arlington animal services manager Chris Huff.

All dogs and cats over the age of four months are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies.