Health officials said Thursday that a bat was found in a house in McHenry County and tested positive for rabies, the first rabid bat discovery in the county this year.
The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) said Thursday that a bat was found inside a home in Ringwood.
Animal control collected the bat and it was submitted for testing.
The testing showed the bat was positive for rabies, which is the first rabid bat of the 2025 season in the county.
MCDH said it was confirmed that the residents were not exposed to the bat so rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, also referred to as PEP, was not recommended.
“The MCDH is therefore sharing this for educational purposes and to remind residents what steps to take if they encounter a bat,” the department said.
MCDH said that rabies in Illinois is primarily contracted from bats. It is typically not contagious from person to person.
The rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact with saliva or brain and nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
Rabies can be fatal in humans if left untreated.
The MCDH recommends that residents who find a bat in their home contain it in a room by closing the door and sealing any gaps at the base with a towel.
If the bat is in a main living area, a bucket should be placed over the bat to contain it.
The MCDH Animal Control should be notified by calling 815-459-6222 to arrange for the bat’s collection and potential testing following an exposure risk assessment by the health department’s Communicable Disease Program
Health officials said that it is important that the animal is alive or recently deceased with the head intact for reliable rabies testing.
Those who are exposed to a rabid animal will need to be administered PEP, a four-series treatment that includes immunoglobulins and vaccine, as soon as possible after the exposure, the MCDH said.
Many types of bats have small teeth which may leave marks that disappear quickly. Bats become more active during the warmer months.
To minimize bats getting into homes, the health department said that doors, windows and vents should have screens and be securely framed. Chimneys should be capped and gaps around utility lines should be plugged.
Residents should not touch, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter, the health department said.
Maryellen Howell, Director of MCDH’s Veterinary Public Health Division, recommends that residents avoid direct contact with bats and take steps to bat-proof their homes.
“The best way to prevent exposure is to avoid handling wild animals, especially bats,” Howell said.
“Since bats can enter through very small gaps, sealing cracks and replacing damaged or loose screens can help keep them out of your home,” Howell added.