With summer temperatures rising, the Henry and Stark County Health Departments warn residents to be alert as bat activity increases, bringing a higher risk of rabies exposure. This year, 19 bats in Illinois have tested positive for rabies. Officials caution against handling bats or wild animals, emphasizing that even seemingly healthy creatures can carry the virus. If a bat enters your home, avoid direct contact and contact animal control immediately. Less than 1% of bats carry rabies, but the disease is almost always fatal without prompt preventive treatment. Keep pets vaccinated and homes sealed to prevent unwanted encounters.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, “You should never try to approach or catch a bat, or any wild animal, you find outside. Bats and wild animals that let people approach them are often not healthy. Instead, call your local animal control agency for its recommendations on how to handle the animal.”
Health Department officials note, “Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system. People can get rabies after being bitten by an infected animal. Rabies can also be contracted when saliva from a rabid animal gets directly into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or a wound. People usually do not know when they have been bitten by a bat, as bats have very small teeth and the bite mark may not be easy to see. If you find yourself in close proximity to a bat and are not sure if you were exposed, for example – you wake up and find a bat in your room, do not kill or release the bat before calling your doctor or local health department to help determine if you could have been exposed to rabies and need preventive treatment. If the bat is available for testing and test results are negative, preventive treatment is not needed.”
Rabies remains a serious health threat, often proving fatal without timely treatment. Immediate medical care is crucial if bitten or exposed to a bat, as quick administration of rabies immune globulin and a vaccine series can save lives.
Health Department Communicable Disease staff adds, “An animal does not have to be aggressive or exhibit other symptoms to have rabies. Changes in any animal’s normal behavior can be early signs of rabies. A bat that is active during the day, found on the ground or is unable to fly, is more likely than others to be rabid. Such bats are often easily approached, but should never be handled.”
The following tips can help prevent the spread of rabies:
- Be a responsible animal owner. Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats, ferrets, and other animals you own.
- Seek immediate veterinary assistance for your pet if your pet has been bitten by a wild animal or exposed to a bat.
- Call the local animal control agency about removing stray animals in your neighborhood.
- 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 animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn to reduce the risk of exposure to rabid animals.
- Maintain homes and other buildings so bats cannot get inside.
- If a bat is in your home, do not release the bat outdoors until after speaking with animal control or public health officials. If you can do it without putting yourself at risk for physical contact or being bitten, try to cover the bat with a large can or bucket and close the door to the room.
If you discover a bat in your home, immediately contact your local animal control officer. For guidance on preventing bats from entering your home, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website. Anyone concerned about possible exposure to a bat should reach out to the Health Department Communicable Disease Nurse at (309) 852-0197. More educational resources and updates are also available on the Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ official Facebook page.
Information about keeping bats out of your home or buildings can be found by logging on to www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcbats.htm.
Information about rabies can be found at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/rabies.
