This week’s news that a Lake County man died of rabies generated a lot of interest, health officials say, but not a lot of concerned calls from members of the public.
Emily Young, a spokesperson for the county health department, said Thursday that residents seemed to have taken in stride news of the first death in Illinois in 67 years from the disease.
An elderly Spring Grove man died about 30 days after he was bitten by a bat in his home. The man, who was 87, opted against treatment, even after health officials informed him that tests showed the bat was rabid.
Young said the health department noted definite social media interest in the story, but there’s been no rush of callers to the department seeking information. She said it’s likely that most people are familiar with rabies and have absorbed the many years of public health information about the disease, which is caused by a virus that attacks the brain and central nervous system
“People know about it generally, so maybe it didn’t catch people as much by surprise,” she said.
In case you need a refresher, the Illinois Department of Public Health website has a trove of rabies information. Here’s an overview from the IDPH:
Rabies in bats
Most of the recent cases of human rabies that have occurred in the United States have been caused by rabies virus from bats. In Illinois, rabid bats can be found anywhere, although most bats are not infected with it.
There are several signs, though, that could indicate a bat is more likely to be infected with the rabies virus. Bats seen during the day, those found in a place where bats are usually not found — like a room in your home, on your lawn — or bats that are unable to fly are more likely to be infected than others.
Bats, like all wild animals, should never be handled.
What to do if you think you’ve been exposed
People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat, but there are instances when a bite may not be apparent. If you find yourself in proximity to a bat and cannot be sure you were not exposed to it, you should call your doctor or your local health department. They can help to determine if you could have been exposed to rabies.
For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your bedroom, if you see a bat in the room of an unattended young child, or if you see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, a doctor or local health department should be consulted.
Do not discard the bat and do not damage the bat’s head.
Signs of rabies
The first sign is usually a change in behavior. An animal need not be “foaming at the mouth” to have rabies. Other signs include difficulty walking, a general appearance of sickness or a change in the animal’s normal behavior.
For example, if an animal that is normally wild and avoids contact with humans approaches a picnic area, campsite or home and appears tame or friendly, consider it rabid. Conversely, if a normally tame and friendly animal becomes hostile or aggressive without provocation, it too should be considered rabid.
A rabid animal usually dies within one week after showing signs of the disease.
What to do in the event of a bite
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention immediately. The local health department or the county animal control office also should be notified immediately.
The animal should be captured without damaging its head, and only if direct contact with the animal can be avoided. If the animal is tested and found to be rabid, the vaccine injections should begin immediately. The vaccines are given in the arm.
