Kinkajou Attacks Chattanooga Teen
The bite of a kinkajou has sent a teenager to a Chattanooga hospital for nearly a week.
Jada Thurmond’s mother took her to a hospital last month with stabbing stomach pain. She was treated for a virus and sent home. The next morning, she was at Children’s Hospital with a fever of 102 degrees. That’s when she mentioned she had been bitten by her aunt’s kinkajou, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/u6yPXZ ).
The mammals, also called honey bears, have increased in popularity as pets in recent years. They are South American rain forest natives.
Doctors found the animals can carry unique bacteria.
The 16-year-old victim was treated with antibiotics and has recovered.
