Third and fourth rabid bats found in Waukegan , Deerfield
Third and fourth rabid bats found in Waukegan , Deerfield
The Lake County (Ill.) Health Department continues to urge residents to avoid contact with bats and ensure pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date, after the third and fourth rabid bats of the year were found in the past week.
The third bat was found in Waukegan on Sunday and the fourth bat was found in Deerfield on Tuesday. Both bats tested positive for rabies. There was no human contact with either bat, but contact between the third bat and a pet dog has not been ruled out.
Last year, nine bats found in Lake County tested positive for rabies.
“Thankfully the dog involved with this incident is up to date on its rabies vaccination,” said Dale Galassie, the Health Department’s Executive Director.
Rabies is an almost always fatal disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. However, this disease is fully preventable with prophylaxis. Most commonly, people get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. In other cases, people can contract rabies if any infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, comes in contact with one’s nose, mouth, an open wound or gets directly into the eyes.
The Health Department is urging anyone in Lake County who has direct contact with a bat or notices a bat acting in an unusual manner, such as flying in daylight or lying on the ground or in your home, to contact the Health Department at (847) 949-9925. If the bat is inside of the house, do not chase it away because it may be needed for rabies testing. Residents are advised to avoid touching the bats.
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