3 Bats Test Positive for Rabies in Lake Co.

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Health Department is urging residents to avoid contact with bats, especially any that may end up in your home, after three tested positive for rabies this past year. In total, the local health department has sent 39 bats to the Illinois Department of Public Health for testing.

One that tested positive for rabies was found in Highland Park and the other two were found in Antioch, according to a news release from the health department.

“Bats are commonly encountered during the fall because of their migration and search for winter quarters in places like attics,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Health Department. “It is important to take preventative steps to protect yourself, your family, and pets from bats and rabies.”

The health department is encouraging residents to follow these tips to prevent contracting rabies:

• Do not touch bats or attempt to remove them from your home. Report bats to Animal Care and Control by calling (847) 377-4700.
• Do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals or stray dogs and cats. Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, even if they appear friendly. Contact the Health Department if you encounter sick or injured wildlife as well as wildlife within your home.
• Vaccinate your pets and do not allow them to roam free. If bitten by a rabid bat, pets may develop rabies and present a risk to humans. Contact your veterinarian to schedule a vaccination appointment.
• Safeguard your home. Bats can enter existing holes as small as 3/4 inch in diameter. Cover and seal possible access routes, especially around chimneys, vents, doors, windows, and plumbing.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you have been bitten or exposed to a bat.

In 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that 4.9 percent of all bats received for rabies testing in Illinois returned positive, which is in an increase from 3 percent in 2017. In Lake County, 5.7 percent of bats tested positive for rabies in 2018, up from 4.8 percent in 2017.

Bats are generally not a threat and are highly beneficial animals as they feed exclusively on insects.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing disease in the brain and eventually, death. Early symptoms of rabies in people include fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear, including insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.

If anyone in your family has direct contact with a bat or notices a bat acting in an unusual manner, such as flying in daylight or lying on the ground or in your home, contact Animal Care and Control immediately at (847) 377-4700.
A trained animal warden will remove the bat at no cost, and the Health Department may submit the bat for rabies testing. The health department may refer callers to bat exclusion companies and provide information on methods for excluding bats.

More information is available on the Lake County Health Department website.