Prairie State Wire

As the weather warms up, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to be cautious of wild animals that may carry rabies, particularly bats. This advisory comes in light of the recent discovery of the first two rabid bats of 2024 in Cook and Will counties. According to IDPH, these bats were found inside homes and subsequently tested positive for rabies.

"Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease," stated IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "It is important that Illinois residents know how to prevent rabies exposure to protect themselves and their loved ones. Bats are the most common carriers of the rabies virus in Illinois but not the only carrier."

Dr. Vohra advised residents to avoid bats and any wild, unfamiliar, or stray animal, as well as any animal that appears sick. He emphasized that groups of bats can move into people’s homes, highlighting the importance of knowing how to keep bats out.

Public health officials advise homeowners who find a bat inside their home to cover it with a container and contact animal control for testing. The IDPH also reminds pet owners to ensure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up-to-date.

Rabies is a virus affecting the nervous system and can be contracted through bites from infected animals or direct contact with their saliva. While bites from bats are usually noticeable, they have small teeth making bite marks difficult to see.

The public is advised not to handle any bat found active during the day, on the ground, or unable to fly as such bats are more likely to be rabid.

Preventive measures against rabies include avoiding contact with wild animals, not adopting wild animals or bringing them into homes, teaching children never to handle unfamiliar animals, maintaining homes so bats cannot get inside, and capturing any bat found in your home for testing after consulting with animal control or public health officials.

For more information about rabies and how to keep bats out of your home, the IDPH encourages a visit to their website.