MIAMI - Florida police said Friday they are searching for five children of around ten-years-old who recently kissed a bat, now know to have rabies.

The group encountered the bat and its owner on a pier in the city of Fort Myers, according to Lee County health authorities.

"Rabies is a fatal disease. There is no known cure for rabies, only vaccination," said Judith Hartner, director of the county health department.

"It is critical that the youth who were playing with the bat on Fort Myers Beach pier are vaccinated as soon as possible."