EUREKA, Ill. – A second dead bat in Woodford County this year has tested positive for rabies.
That’s according to the Woodford County Health Department. Officials there say the dead bat was collected from a private home in Eureka.
A family pet detected the bat, and the health department says while the pet was up-to-date on its vaccination, it will get additional booster shots, and is being quarantined as a precaution.
No humans were exposed.
The health department says you can’t simply tell if a bat has rabies, and since they have small teeth, you can’t necessarily tell if you’ve been bitten.
Bats are the number one way rabies spreads in Illinois, and you shouldn’t handle a dead bat if you come across one. What’s more, the health department says bats are more active this time of year.
If you think you’ve been scratched or bitten by a bat, officials say call your doctor right away — or, your vet, if you think your pet has been exposed.
