SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Public Health says the state had its first human case of rabies since 1954, and the victim has since died.
The state says the Lake County man in his 80’s died after refusing a preventative treatment when he woke up one morning and discovered a bat which later tested positive for rabies on his neck.
State Public Health Veterinarian, Doctor Connie Austin, says if you come in contact with a bat, don’t waste time.
“Call the local health department, call your animal control, to come pick up the bat,” says Austin. “Then, listen to the advice of the professionals — your doctor, and the local health department — to determine if you do need to go in and get rabies treatment.”
Austin says that treatment is usually done at your hospital’s emergency room.
Rabies impacts the central nervous system and if not fatal, can otherwise cause brain disease.
Austin, says homeowners should be on the lookout for bats.
“If people do hear that kind of scratching and worrying about whether there could be bats in their home, they can go out at dusk a couple times a week and look up and see if any bats are coming in and out of, especially, the eaves of their house,” said Austin.
And, Austin says, get what she calls a “wildlife excluder” to get rid of those bate. Is is illegal in the state to kill a bat.
There are only an estimated one to three cases of rabies in humans annually in the United States.
