Results tagged “rabies”

Health officials in McHenry County are urging caution among residents as 13 rabid bats have been identified so far this year. It's nothing new for McHenry residents as their county had the most rabid bats reported in 2008 with 23 and the current tally of 13 also leads the state so far this year. According to a WBBM report, "Statewide, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 37 as of August 3rd. August is typically a very active month for bats, the release said." The WBBM story has several precautions to help protect you and prevent rabies as well as what you can do if a bat makes its way into your house. We also recommend the "Business School" episode of The Office (available here, for now).

A third rabid bat was found in Waukegan last Sunday, and a fourth bat found in Deerfield, resulting in the Lake County Health Department urging residents to avoid contact with bats. So not cuddling of bats, people!

A Cary woman was maybe bitten by a rabid bat, so McHenry County officials are warning people stay the eff away from the flying mammals. Bat bites can be so tiny they're almost impossible to detect, so people who've been around bats are often given rabies vaccines as a precaution. This is the 15th report of a rabid bat in Illinois so far this year; 113 were reported last year, but there hasn't been a case of rabies in a person in Illinois since 1954. According to the CDC, tens of thousands of people are treated for possible rabies exposure every year, but a few still die.