Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. Humans can get rabies after being bitten by an infected animal. Rabies can also be contracted when saliva from a rabid animal gets directly into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or a wound. People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat, but bats have very small teeth and the bite mark may not be easy to see. If you find yourself in close proximity to a bat and are not sure if you were exposed, for example – you wake up and find a bat in your room, do not kill or release the bat before calling your doctor or local health department to help determine if you could have been exposed to rabies and need preventive treatment. Any wild mammal such as a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to humans.Bats are the primary carrier of rabies in Illinois and already this year, 52 bats have tested positive for rabies in 24 counties. In 2011, 51 bats tested positive for rabies in Illinois.
Source: News Tribune, 8/24/2012
http://newstrib.com/Main.asp?SectionID=54&SubSectionID=171&ArticleID=21…
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