From McHenry County:
Bat in McHenry County tests positive for rabies, first human exposure of 2025 season
MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has confirmed that a bat collected from a Cary home on August 28 has tested positive for rabies, marking the first human exposure of the 2025 season.
Two people and one animal were exposed after the residents awoke in the middle of the night to find a bat in the room with them.
The individuals are receiving rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is the recommended course of treatment following potential rabies exposure.
The animal is also receiving follow-up care.
Rabies is a deadly virus, but it is preventable with timely medical care.
Bite and scratch exposures from a bat can be very small and may go unnoticed. McHenry County residents who find a bat in their home, encounter it, or were in the same room as the bat while sleeping should confine the bat to an enclosed room by closing the door and sealing any gaps at the base with a towel. If the bat is in a main living area and there has been potential exposure to a person or pet, place an upside-down bucket over the bat, if possible, to contain it.
In either situation, residents should immediately contact McHenry County Animal Control at (815) 459-6222 to arrange for the bat’s collection and potential testing following an exposure risk assessment by the MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program.
For rabies testing, it is crucial that the bat be in good condition (i.e., head intact) and either alive or recently deceased. Questions about rabies exposure can be directed to the MCDH’s Communicable Disease Program at (815) 334-4500.
Bats become more active during the warmer months.
During this time, the best way to prevent rabies is to avoid exposure.
A bat that is active during the day, found in an unusual location such as inside a home, or unable to fly is potentially rabid.
Children should also be educated never to touch or handle wild animals.
The MCDH encourages residents to take proactive steps to prevent exposure by bat-proofing their homes.
Since bats can enter through very small gaps, sealing cracks, capping chimneys, and replacing damaged or loose screens can help keep them out.
The MCDH offers the following tips to prevent exposure to rabid bats, both inside and outside the home:
- Ensure that doors, windows, and vents have securely framed screens free of holes, chimneys are capped, and gaps around utility lines are sealed.
- Do not touch, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick, wild animals back to health. Instead, contact McHenry County Animal Control for assistance.
To learn more about rabies prevention, visit the Illinois Department of Health’s rabies webpage.
