McHenry Co. Health Officials Offer Tips After Rabid Bat Found In Home

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The McHenry County Department of Health has confirmed that a bat found inside a Ringwood home has tested positive for rabies, health officials said this past week.

The bat was collected by the MCDH’s Veterinary Public Health division, also known as McHenry County Animal Control, and sent for testing. In this instance, it was confirmed there was no human exposure, so rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, also referred to as PEP, was not recommended, according to a news release.

The MCDH is therefore sharing news of the rabid bat for educational purposes and to remind residents what steps to take if they encounter a bat, health officials said.

Here's what you need to know:

• Bite and scratch exposures from a bat can be very small and may go unnoticed. Therefore, McHenry County residents who find a bat in their home, encounter it, or were in the same room as the bat while sleeping should confine the bat to an enclosed room by closing the door and sealing any gaps at the base with a towel.
• If the bat is in a main living area and there has been potential exposure to a person or pet, place an upside-down bucket over the bat, if possible, to contain it. In both situations, residents should immediately contact McHenry County Animal Control at 815=459-6222 to arrange for the bat's collection, and potential testing following an exposure risk assessment by the MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program.
• For rabies testing, it is crucial that the bat be in good condition, and that it's head is intact, and that it is either alive or recently deceased. If you have questions or concerns about rabies exposure, please contact the MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program by calling (815) 334-4500.

When Are Bats Most Active?

Bats become more active during the warmer months, according to health officials.

During this period, the best way to prevent rabies is to avoid exposure. A bat that is active during the day, found in an unusual location such as inside a home, or unable to fly is potentially rabid, according to a news release.

Children should also be educated to avoid handling wild animals.

"The best way to prevent exposure is to avoid handling wild animals, especially bats,” said Maryellen Howell, director of McHenry County Animal Control. “Since bats can enter through very small gaps, sealing cracks and replacing damaged or loose screens can help keep them out of your home.”

The MCDH offers the following additional tips to prevent exposure to rabid bats, both inside and outside the home:

• Ensure that doors, windows, and vents have securely framed screens free of holes, chimneys are capped, and gaps around utility lines are sealed.
• 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 back to health. Instead, contact McHenry County Animal Control for assistance.

To learn more about rabies prevention, visit the Illinois Department of Health’s rabies webpage.