EUREKA, Ill. — The Woodford County Health Department said Thursday that a recent report showed a deceased bat, collected from a private residence in Metamora, tested positive for rabies. This is the first bat to test positive for rabies in Woodford County since 2018.
The health department said the bat was found in a room that a resident was sleeping in, but it was unclear if the person had been bit.
The resident is currently undergoing preventive rabies treatment. Rabies can be spread through saliva of a rabid animal and get into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound.
The WCHD said the only way to confirm if a bat has rabies is through lab testing. Only in instances when a person or pet has been exposed to a bat will a bat need to be tested for rabies.
Bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Illinois. You cannot tell by looking at a bat that it has rabies. The animal does not have to be aggressive or exhibit other symptoms to have rabies. A bat that is active during the day, found on the ground and unable to fly, is likely sick, and should not be handled.
WCHD reminds residents that bats are more active this time of year, which means the possibility of exposure to rabies increases. Residents should avoid bats, and vaccinate their pets to help prevent rabies transmission.
For more information about bats from the Woodford County Health Department, click HERE.
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