State health officials have removed rabid bats from two Illinois homes, while warning pet owners to watch for rabies symptoms.
It comes weeks after rabies-riddled bats were discovered in Michigan. Bats transmit the rabies virus in every U.S. state except Hawaii.
State health officials are urging citizens to ensure their rabies vaccinations are up to date for pets, valuable livestock and horses, while remaining alert to strange behavior from common carriers of rabies: bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.
The May 10 discovery of the two bats, now confirmed positive for rabies, led IDPH to release detailed guidance on how to prevent bats from nesting in homes and other dwellings as the threat of rabid bat activity looms. summer increases.
State public health officials have successfully removed rabid bats from two Illinois homes in Cook and Will counties — and are now warning of even more rabid creatures. Above, a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), one of many species native to Illinois and nearby states
“Groups of bats can enter people’s homes, underscoring the importance of knowing how to keep bats out,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.
“Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease,” Dr. Vohra emphasized in her statement.
“It is important that Illinois residents know how to prevent exposure to rabies to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
The IDPH director noted that if a bat is discovered in a home, the first step is to attempt to cover the home with a container and contact animal control for rabies testing.
The health department recommended wearing protective gloves when approaching the creature and using a box or coffee can to hold the winged mammal in place.
The state of Illinois is home to bat species such as the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which can weigh just a few nickels and is more than capable of sneaking through narrow gaps or cracks in doors and windows. Above, a little brown bat in flight
Installing chimney vent covers and ensuring that window frames are secure at all entrances, such as doors, windows and vents, will help reduce the risk of rabid bats in the home, IDPH noted in its ‘bat exclusion’ guide.
Any opening larger than half an inch, they recommended, should be closed to prevent bats from sneaking into the house.
Officials recommended a new design for a “one-way valve.” The valve system allows bats to leave a structure they have already contaminated, but prevents them from re-entering
The state is home to species of bats, such as the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which can weigh just a few nickels and is more than capable of sneaking through narrow gaps or cracks in doors and windows.
IDPH recommended “caulk, expandable foam, plywood, mortar, metal flashing, steel wool, or quarter-inch mesh or wire mesh” for the task of sealing these openings, but also presented a new design for a “one-way valve.”
The valve system allows bats to leave a structure they have already contaminated, but prevents them from re-entering.
While stereotypes about rabies may lead the public to believe that all rabid animals act aggressively or foam at the mouth, the IDPH noted that “changes in any animal’s normal behavior may be early signs of rabies.”
For example, a bat that is active during the day, is found on the ground or appears unable to fly should be treated as if it has rabies, health officials said.
“If you have been bitten by an animal, seek medical attention immediately,” the IDPH stated in their advisory this week.
“Bite wounds can become infected and if the animal is at high risk for rabies, preventive treatment should begin promptly,” they noted.
Whenever possible, officials say residents “should not kill or release the bat before calling your doctor or local health department to help determine if you may have been exposed to rabies and need preventive treatment.”
A captured specimen could help local health officials decide how to treat the exposed individuals, they said.