27 Rabid Bats Found In Illinois This Year: IDPH Warning

ILLINOIS — Just two years after Illinois had its first human rabies death in nearly seven decades, the Illinois Department of Public Health is warning residents to be cautious about potential rabies exposure from infected animals, especially bats.

So far this year, health officials say 27 rabid bats have been found in 14 Illinois counties: five each in Kankakee and Lake counties, four in Cook County, and three in McHenry County. Rabies has also been found in bats in Bureau, Clark, DeKalb, Macon, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, Wayne and Will counties.

The disease — which is almost always fatal once symptoms begin — can also be found in other wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes, according to IDPH.

"Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease," IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement issued this week. "It is important that Illinois residents know how to prevent rabies exposure to protect themselves and their loved ones. Rabies can be prevented in a number of ways, including vaccinating pets, being cautious around wildlife, and seeking medical care immediately after a potential exposure. If exposed, please seek medical attention immediately."

People can get rabies if they are bitten by an infected animal, as well as if saliva from an infected animal gets into a person's eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound.

Anyone who wakes up to find a bat in their home should immediately seek preventive treatment, even if they cannot find evidence that they've been bitten.

"A bat’s teeth are small, so someone who has been bitten by a bat may not know it, or may be unable to communicate it (for example, very small children," IDPH said in a news release. "That’s why it’s important that if you discover a bat in your home, you should avoid killing or releasing it; instead, immediately consult with your local animal control or your local health department to determine appropriate next steps. If you have been exposed to rabies, preventive treatment, known as PEP, is necessary. But if the bat or wild animal can be safely captured and tested, and the test comes back negative, no preventive medication is required."

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In 2021, a Lake County man in his 80s died after refusing post-exposure treatment when he woke up to find a bat on his neck that later tested positive for rabies.

The man awoke to find the bat in mid-August, and by September began developing rabies symptoms — neck pain, trouble speaking and controlling his arms, numbness of his fingers and headaches. He died Sept. 20, 2021, and officials say a bat colony was found in his home.

His death was the first in Illinois due to rabies since 1954.

Nationwide, 25 human cases of rabies have been reported in the last 15 years, with only two patients — an 8-year-old California girl in 2011 and a Texas teenager in 2009 — surviving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 59,000 people die from rabies every year, mostly children in Africa and Asia.

Prior to the Illinois man's death, the last reported rabies deaths in the U.S. were in 2017 and 2018, when a 55-year-old Utah man, a 69-year-old Delaware woman and a 6-year-old Orlando boy died of the disease.

Preventing rabies

Anyone who has been bitten by any wild animal should seek immediate treatment, since in addition to risk of rabies, animal bites may become infected by bacteria.

Rabies preventive treatment, if needed, must begin within a few days of the exposure.

A bat that is active during the day, found on the ground or unable to fly is likely to be rabid and should never be handled.

"It’s also recommended to take steps to protect your pets against exposure to rabies," Illinois State Veterinarian Dr. Mark Ernst said. "Illinois law requires that all dogs and cats 16 weeks of age and older be vaccinated for rabies and registered with their county. If an animal bites a person or your pet is bitten by another animal, the local animal control must be contacted for quarantine information."

To protect your animals:

1. Keep your dogs and cats up to date on rabies vaccination per state law and to protect them against an exposure. Also, horses, sheep, cattle and ferrets can also be vaccinated for rabies.
2. Call your veterinarian if your animal has been exposed to a high-risk animal, especially bats.

Other tips to prevent rabies:

• 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 exposures 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.
• After consulting with animal control or public health officials, the bat may need to be captured for rabies testing to determine if you need preventive treatment or if your pet may have been exposed.

Steps you can take to capture the bat if animal control is not available:

• When the bat lands, approach it slowly, while wearing thick gloves, and place a box or coffee can over it.
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside.
• Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the cardboard, allowing the bat to breathe and call animal control
• Do not come into physical contact with a bat.
• If the bat is dead, put it in a plastic container and keep it cool while waiting for animal control to pick it up.

You can find more information about rabies and how to prevent exposure at the Illinois Department of Public Health website: Rabies (illinois.gov).