A deceased bat in Germantown Hills tested positive for rabies, according to the Woodford County Health Department (WCHD).
This is the first bat to test positive for rabies in Woodford County since 2002. The bat was collected from a garage.
There was no human exposure and no reported cases of rabies in humans in Illinois this year.
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. Humans can get rabies after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal.
According to the WCHD, bats are more active this time of year, which means the possibility of exposure to rabies increases. The health department is reminding residents to avoid bat exposure, and vaccinating pets is crucial to preventing rabies transmission.
According to Illinois Department of Public Health, the number of bats submitted for rabies testing across the state has ranged from 1,300 to 1,700 each year over the past five years, the number testing positive for rabies is typically around three percent.
To date, in Illinois, 29 bats have tested positive for rabies in 2018.
The animal does not have to be aggressive or exhibit other symptoms to have rabies. Changes in any animal’s normal behavior, such as difficulty walking or an overall appearance of illness, can be early signs of rabies. A bat that is active during the day, found on the ground and unable to fly, is likely to be sick.
