Boy, 8, Treated After Rabid Bat Exposure Near Harvard

HARVARD, IL — A rabid bat was recently identified in Harvard, the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) confirmed Tuesday. In a release from the MCDH, the bat was tested after it was determined to have come in contact with a person who has since started appropriate treatment after exposure to the rabies-positive bat. That person, according to Northwest Herald, is an 8-year-old boy who lives in an unincorporated area near Harvard.

According to the news report, the boy's mother said the bat bit her son near his wrist, after it possibly got inside the home through the chimney. The boy was brought to the hospital the next day to see doctors, and eventually begin rabies treatments.

According to the release from the MCDH, bats are only tested in cases of possible human or animal exposure, and 48 rabid bats have been reported in Illinois so far in 2019, with two of those reported in McHenry County.

Last month, health officials reported a bat that tested positive for rabies was found at a home in Woodstock. No human exposure was reported but several dogs found playing with the bat may have been exposed and were all going to be evaluated.

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can only be confirmed in a laboratory, according to the MCDH. Simply put, the best way to avoid rabies is to avoid exposure, MCDH added.

Here are tips to help prevent rabies/exposure to rabies:

• Never touch a bat with bare hands.
• Using a shovel or plastic bag ensures no direct contact.
• If a bat is found inside, contain it in a room by closing the door.
• If you find a bat outside and think there has been exposure to a person or pet, or if the bat is injured, place an upside down bucket over the bat if possible.
• Keeping cats and dogs up to date with vaccinations will not only keep them from getting rabies but also provide a barrier of protection for you if your animal is bitten by a rabid animal.
• Residents are encouraged to take a “hands off” approach to wild animals to reduce their risk of exposure.
• Children should also be educated about exposure dangers.
• Call Animal Control immediately at 815-459-6222 if you, a family member, or a pet has had direct contact with a bat.

More: Rabid Bat Found In House in Woodstock

To test bats for rabies, it is important the bat be in good condition with the head intact, the MCDH added.

More information: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rabies page. Call MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program at 815-334-4500 for questions about exposure or to determine if treatment is needed.