PALOS PARK, IL — A rabid bat found inside a building in Palos Park has tested positive for rabies, Cook County officials said. No one was bitten.
The bat was found Monday in the vicinity of the 11900 block of Ford Road. It was submitted for examination to the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory. The bat was determined to be rabid.
Cook County Animal And Rabies Control advises all residents to keep their dogs, cats and ferrets leashed when outside of their homes. If your animal does not have a current rabies vaccination, have the pet immediately inoculated with a rabies vaccine. The county is hosting low-cost rabies and microchip clinics this summer throughout the Chicago region.
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If you are bitten by or exposed to a bat, you should contact your doctor immediately. The phone number for Cook County animal control is 708-974-6140.
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Animals exposed to rabies do not have to be aggressive or behaving erratically. Changes in any animal’s normal behavior can be early signs of rabies. Bats on the ground, unable to fly, or those which are active during that day could potentially be rabid, county officials said. Such bats are often easily approached but should never be handled.
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system or humans and other mammals. A person may contract rabies through a bite, scratch or saliva from an infected animal.
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