Rabid Bat Found In McHenry County

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A bat recently found in a home in Woodstock has tested positive for rabies, health officials said Monday.

On May 10, the McHenry County Department of Health learned the bat had tested positive for rabies and contacted the family living in the Woodstock home where it was found to learn if anyone had been "exposed" to the bat.

The investigation determined there was an exposure to the rabid bat and post-exposure prophylaxis was recommended for the household, according to the news release.

In Illinois, bats are the primary carrier of rabies.

Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and can only be confirmed by laboratory testing.

PEP is the treatment provided after a rabies exposure and consists of a dose of human rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine over a 14-day period to prevent rabies infection, according to the news release.

As the weather gets warmer and bats become more active, the best way to avoid rabies is to avoid exposure. A bat that is active by day, found in a place where bats are not usually seen, such as in the home, or is unable to fly, is potentially rabid.

Children should also be taught to not handle wild animals, according to the news release.

McHenry County residents who find a bat in their home and come into contact with it, or were in the same room as the animal while sleeping, should contact the MCDH Animal Control and their physician, health officials said.

Maryellen Howell, director of MCDH’s Veterinary Public Health Division, advises people to use a shovel or plastic bag to ensure there is no direct contact between themselves and a bat if a bat is found in or around the home, according to a news release.

If a live bat is found inside, contain it in a room by closing the door and placing a towel along the bottom of the door.

If a bat is found in a main living area and there has been exposure to a person or pet, place an upside-down bucket over the bat if possible. In both cases, immediately call McHenry County Animal Control at 815-459-6222.

To test bats for rabies, it is important the bat be in good condition, with its head intact, and either alive or recently deceased.

MCDH encourages the following tips to prevent exposure to rabid bats in and outside of the home:

• Make sure doors, windows, and vents have screens that are securely framed and free of holes, chimneys are capped and gaps around utility lines are plugged.
• Do not touch, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick, wild animals to health. Call MCDH Animal Control for assistance.

“People should take a hands-off approach to all wild animals, especially bats, to reduce their risk of exposure,” Howell said. “Bats are able to fit in small places, so bat-proofing the home and replacing loose screens or screens with holes is an extra line of defense to prevent exposure in the home.”

Questions about rabies exposure should be directed to MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program at (815) 334-4500. To learn more about rabies prevention, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.