McHenry Co. Reports First Rabies-Positive Bat With Human Exposure in 2026

The McHenry County Department of Health has confirmed the first rabies-positive bat with human exposure in the county for the 2026 season.

According to health officials, a resident found the bat inside their McHenry County home. The county’s Veterinary Public Health division, McHenry County Animal Control, collected the animal and submitted it for laboratory testing, which confirmed rabies. The resident involved in the exposure received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the recommended preventive treatment following potential contact with the disease.

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Health officials said the case is being shared for educational purposes as bat activity increases in northern Illinois.

Bats play an important ecological role in the region, particularly during late spring and summer when they are most active, according to a news release. A single bat can consume hundreds to thousands of insects, including mosquitoes, each night, making them a natural form of pest control. Officials noted that bats roosting outdoors in trees, barns or bat houses are behaving normally and should not be disturbed.

While rabies is a serious and potentially fatal disease, it is preventable with prompt medical treatment. Officials stressed that not all bats carry rabies, but any bat found active during the day, in unusual locations such as inside a home, or unable to fly should be treated as a potential risk, according to a news release. Because bites and scratches can be very small and difficult to detect, exposure may not always be obvious.

Residents are urged to keep pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date, as vaccinated animals provide an important layer of protection for households.

The health department also encourages residents to take steps to prevent bats from entering homes. Because bats can fit through openings as small as 3/8 of an inch, officials recommend sealing cracks and gaps around utility lines, installing secure screens on doors, windows and vents, and capping chimneys, according to a news release. Residents should also avoid leaving garbage or food sources exposed that may attract wildlife.

Those experiencing recurring bat issues are encouraged to contact an Illinois Department of Natural Resources-licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator for assistance with identifying entry points and safely excluding bats from structures.

Officials noted that bat exclusion work in attics and other non-livable areas is regulated under the Illinois Wildlife Code and may only be done during certain times of the year to protect roosting bats and their young.

If a bat is found inside a home, residents should not touch it with bare hands. Instead, officials advise confining the bat to a room by closing doors and blocking gaps, or carefully covering it with a container if possible, and contacting McHenry County Animal Control at 815-459-6222 for collection and testing.

Questions about potential exposure can be directed to the McHenry County Department of Health Communicable Disease Program at 815-334-4500.