Rabid Bat Inside St. Mary Nativity: Health Department

JOLIET, IL — On Tuesday, the Will County Health Department announced that this year's third bat with rabies has been confirmed. The location of the find was quite unusual. Rabid bat number three was found inside St Mary’s Nativity Catholic Church, at 760 N. Broadway St. in Joliet on Monday. No one was exposed to the bat, health officials said.

Last week, Will County announced that one bat with rabies was found in the 1500 block of Marion Drive in Wilmington. A family of five was exposed to the bat, and no pets were in the house. Post-exposure prophylaxis was recommended for the family, as the bat was in the house overnight before being captured by Will County Animal Control. The second bat was found in the 300 block of North Broadway in Joliet, which is just four blocks from St. Mary Nativity.

No one was exposed, and there were no pets, the county said.

The Health Department reminds you that although it has been a slow year for rabid bats this far, extreme caution must still be practiced. As recently as 2018, there were 19 confirmed rabid bats in Will County, with that high number credited in part to more awareness and vigilance on the part of Will County residents.