A bat captured in the 34-hundred block of Florence in Steger has tested positive for rabies, making it Will County’s first rabid bat of 2019. A resident stated that no one in the house of one adult and one cat had any direct contact with the bat. The cat has received a rabies booster shot, and no PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) treatment was recommended for the adult resident.
In 2018 there were a total of 19 confirmed rabid bats in Will County, with the significant number credited in part to more awareness and vigilance on the part of Will County residents.
Bats discovered in Will County need to be immediately reported to Will County Animal Control at 815-462-5633. The Will County Animal Control program maintains a 24-hour answering and emergency pick-up service for confined stray animals, injured animals, and stray biters.
In addition to reporting any discovered bats immediately, Will County residents are reminded to remove any people and animals from the area where the bat is, and to close off the vicinity where the bat is located if possible, and look over all present residents and pets that were around the bat for any small puncture or bite marks. Residents are reminded to not touch a deceased bat, and to please also remember to have your pets currently vaccinated against rabies.
For more information bats and rabies, please go to this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site.