SHELBYVILLE, IL. —
Bats have become a health concern now that a bat has tested positive for rabies in Shelby County.
“This is our first positive test in bats since 1990,” said Shelby County Health Department Environmental Director Jeff Houska. He noted that the positive bat was captured in rural Shelbyville. Moultrie County has also had a bat test positive for rabies.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, bats have been the common carrier for the disease over the past ten year. Out of 670 positives, bats have accounted for 660 of them.
“Bats seem to be the main carrier right now. It used to be skunks,” Houska said.
Although they are the main carriers, only 3 percent of the 1,540 bats tested in 2011 in Illinois were found positive. Bats are more active during the summer months and are likely to come in contact with humans or pets.
“You won’t get rabies from just handling the infected animals. You get it through saliva in the blood stream, usually through a bite,” Houska said. “Bats have very tiny teeth so the bite may look like a mosquito bite.”
Houska noted that the County Health Department keeps only one treatment on hand because incidents of humans infected with rabies is so few and the treatments are so expensive. However, they can get more treatments if needed. The last human case in Illinois was reported in 1954.
Because of the expense of testing the bats, the State is limiting the testing to those bats that have had human contact. Although bats can carry the rabies virus, most bats are not infected with it. The only way rabies can be diagnosed is a bat is by laboratory testing. Signs that a bat is likely infected with the rabies virus include: being seen during the day, found in a place where bats are usually not found, unable to fly.
Bats showing those signs should be handled only by animal control personnel. Those to be tested should not have any damage to the head as the brain is what is tested for rabies.
Animals are more likely to be affected by bat bites, but rabies cases have been rare. Animals with rabies usually display an aggressive behavior without provocation. Other signs include difficulty walking or a general appearance of sickness.
“We’ve done just a few tests through the years. All have been negative,” said veterinarian Dr. John Brix.
“Statewide the bat rabies have come to the forefront. My best advice is to get pets – both dogs and cats – vaccinated, even If they are indoor pets,” Brix said.
Brix also said that horses can be vaccinated also.
“Bats do occasionally get into the house. If you see a bat, be real careful handling the thing, It’s best not to handle it at all,” Brix said. “If you are bitten, get in contact with the Health Department first.”
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June 27, 2012
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