Dozens of bats in Illinois have been confirmed to have rabies. Counties near the Chicago area have had the most cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
In Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties, there have been nine, 12, and 15 bats confirmed with rabies, the department said as of September 2, 2015. One bat was found with rabies in Jo Daviess County north of the Quad Cities.
According to a report by the Galena Gazette in Jo Daviess County, a Galena resident had to put down her dog in May after she discovered it had killed a rabid bat in her home.
On Sunday, August 30, a rabid bat was captured in a Will County home, making for the county’s 14th confirmed case of wildlife rabies for the year, according to Chicago Tribune. This case was a record for the county.
In a statement regarding the rabid bat issue, the Will County Health Department indicated that at least three dozen residents in the area have gotten post-exposure rabies treatments so far in 2015. Rabies can be fatal to humans and is transmitted through a bite or a scratch from an infected warm-blooded animal.
“People who see bats flying around the eaves or chimney of their homes should consider consulting with a wildlife exclusion specialist to determine whether the animals are gaining access into the residence,” said Will County Animal Control Administrator Lee Schild D.V.M. “Bats inside a home represent a potentially dangerous situation which needs to be addressed immediately.”
According to the IDPH, you should avoid any bats that are seen flying outside in the daytime, flopping around on the ground, landing on or near someone, or sleeping in accessible locations. “If a bat is found indoors, the structure should be thoroughly inspected for the presence of roosting bats,” IDPH says. “Structure-infesting bats pose a health risk and must be prevented from entering occupied rooms.”
Even if a bat is behaving normally, all contact should be avoided.
The IDPH confirmed that if it is suspected that a bat has come into contact with a person, that bat should be captured and tested for rabies. In addition, the incident should be reported to a physician and local health department to assess the possible need for rabies treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have outlined the proper way to capture a bat — click here.
The table below shows which counties have had some of the 59 total bats with rabies in the state.
| County | Species | Number of Animals |
| Adams | Bat | 1 |
| Champaign | Bat | 1 |
| Cook – Chicago | Bat | 3 |
| Cook – Outside Chicago | Bat | 9 |
| DuPage | Bat | 12 |
| Grundy | Bat | 1 |
| Jo Daviess | Bat | 1 |
| Kane | Bat | 4 |
| Kankakee | Bat | 3 |
| Lake | Bat | 2 |
| McHenry | Bat | 1 |
| Menard | Bat | 1 |
| Moultrie | Bat | 1 |
| Pike | Bat | 1 |
| Sangamon | Bat | 1 |
| Vermilion | Bat | 1 |
| Will | Bat | 15 |
| Winnebago | Bat | 1 |
| Total | 59 |
