Health Officials Confirm a Rabid Bat Found in Chicagoland Area
Illinois health officials confirmed that a bat located in an unincorporated suburb last week has tested positive for rabies.
The bat was discovered in the backyard of a St. Charles home on August 16th, per Kane County health officials and the Illinois Department of Public Health. It is the first case of a rabid bat in Kane County since 2024, when two bats tested positive for the virus.
READ MORE: Playful, Treat-Loving Shasta is Your "Pet of the Week" in Dubuque
What to Know about a Rabid Bat Being Discovered in Illinois:
Obviously, a bat carrying the rabies virus is incredible serious. Rabies is a deadly disease that attacks the central nervous system. The virus is typically present in salvia, brain tissue, and spinal fluid of an afflicted animal, per WGN. Rabies can affect all mammals, including humans, with over 7,000 animals carrying the virus in any given year. Most of the animals who get rabies are wild ones.
The Illinois Department of Public Health clarified too that while bats can carry the virus, most of them are not infected with it. Furthermore, with bats being nocturnal, bats that are seen during the day, found in places they aren't typically found, and unable to fly are signifiers that the animal could indeed be infected with rabies.
It's probably a good time to remind people that like, any wild animal, bats should never be handled by humans. At this time, however, there is no threat to the public, and if you see a bat exhibiting any of the aforementioned behavior, you should get a hold of your local health officials as soon as possible.
Find out more about a rabid bat being discovered in Kane County, IL on WGN's website.
LOOK: Can you tell the difference between these common pets?
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz