Bat With Rabies Caught In New Lenox

NEW LENOX, IL - The Will County Health Department has announced that a bat seized from a house in New Lenox on Sunday has tested positive for rabies. This marks the 16th bat of the season that has been collected by the Will County Health Department. The latest bat was collected on Sunday from the 200 block of Hampshire Court.

According to health officials, one person who lived at the home had physical contact with the bat last Thursday, Sept. 6 and that person has started post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. The family's dog was current on its vaccines, official said.

"The family believes the bat entered the home on (last Wednesday night) when husband let dog out and forgot to let dog in. Dog was able to open the door to the home on that evening and for an unknown period the door was open," county officials said.

As a public service reminder, bats discovered in Will County need to be immediately reported to Will County Animal Control at 815-462-5633. The Will County Animal Control program maintains a 24-hour answering and emergency pick-up service for confined stray animals, injured animals, and stray biters.

Last year, Will County collected four bats with rabies. In 2016, there were eight. In 2015, however, a total of 20 rabies bats were found.

Shutterstock / Ivan Kuzmin