A bat found in La Grange Park has tested positive for rabies, the first case of a rabid bat reported in Cook County in 2017.
La Grange Park Police report that the bat was found in the 400 block of North Spring Avenue on Wednesday.
It was submitted for rabies examination and was found to be rabid by the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory.
Becky Schlikerman, a spoksperson for the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control, said the bat was found on a sidewalk.
Bats become active this time of year, which may increase the chance for exposure to rabies, she said.
“This is the time of year when we see the first positive (rabid) bats,” she said.
There were 24 rabid bats found in Cook County in 2016 and 22 in 2015, she said.
A rabid bat was discovered inside a home in La Grange in 2016.
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system in humans and other mammals. A person may contract rabies through a bite, scratch or saliva from an infected animal. If untreated, rabies is fatal.
“If you find yourself in close proximity to a bat, dead or alive, do not touch, hit or destroy it and do not try and remove it from your home,” said Terry Mason, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “Call your local animal control office to collect the bat and call your healthcare provider or local public health department immediately to report exposure and determine if preventive treatment is needed.”
Changes in any animal’s normal behavior can be early signs of rabies, according to the health department. Bats that are on the ground, unable to fly or active during the day are more likely than others to be rabid and should not be handled or approached, the health department reports.
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