Bats/Rabies

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease affecting the brain. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported in the United States (average one per year), most of which are acquired in foreign countries.

Who gets Rabies?

All mammals, including man, are susceptible to rabies.

How is Rabies spread?

It is transmitted from infected mammals to man and is usually fatal once symptoms appear. Transmission usually occurs by exposure to infected saliva through a bite; saliva contacts to scratches or broken skin, eyes, mouth, or nose are also possible routes.

What are the symptoms of Rabies?

Early symptoms include irritability, headache, fever and sometimes itching or pain at the site of exposure. The disease eventually progresses to paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, convulsions, delirium and death.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

The incubation period is variable. It can be as short as nine days, however, the usual incubation period is 20 to 90 days. It is shorter when the bite is on the head (25-48 days) than when on an extremity (46-78 days).

Can Rabies be prevented?

Yes. When bitten by a rabid animal, the bite should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. Rabies immune globulin (dosage dependent on weight) and five doses of rabies vaccine (given over a four-week period) should be administered as soon as possible. This treatment is highly effective in preventing rabies.

What can be done to prevent the spread of Rabies?

Exposure to rabies may be minimized by removing all stray dogs and cats and having all pets vaccinated, "bat-proofing" your home, and staying away from all wild animals, especially those acting abnormally, and not keeping wild animals as pets are important preventive measures.

Who should get the Rabies Vaccine?

Persons bitten by laboratory proven rabid animals should receive rabies vaccine. Occasionally, persons bitten by dogs and cats need vaccination. Persons bitten by skunks, foxes and other wild animals may also be vaccinated. Special consideration must be given to human exposure to a bat in your house. If the bat could have been in your bedroom or your children's bedroom while you all were sleeping (bat exposure may not be detectable), the bat must be sent in for testing.

A negative test result will let you know, no treatment is needed. If the bat cannot be found, vaccine treatment is needed. (The disease has also been found in deer, livestock, and in large rodents such as woodchucks). Consult your physician or local health department for advice in each circumstance. Persons who work with many animals (veterinarians, animal wardens, etc.) should be immunized against rabies when they enter their profession.

Who does note need the Rabies Vaccine?

Persons bitten by mice, rats, squirrels and immunized dogs and cats almost never need rabies vaccine. (Birds, fish, insects, lizards, snakes and turtles never get rabies). Consult your physician or local health department for advice in each circumstance.

What should be done if you think you've been bitten by a rabid animal?

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. The local health department or an animal control official 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 an apparently healthy domestic dog, cat, or ferret bites a human, it must be captured, confined and professionally observed for 10 days following the bite.

If the animal remains healthy during this period, it would not have transmitted rabies at the time of the bite. There is no reliable observation period established for non-domestic animals. If a person is bitten by a non-domestic animal and it is available for testing, testing should be done immediately. All animal bites should be reported to a local animal control office. If an animal suspected of having rabies cannot be observed or tested, or if it tests positive for rabies, treatment of the individual with rabies immune globulin and the vaccine series must begin immediately. Vaccine injections are given in the arm or hip.

What should be done if you find a bat in your house?

The following questions should be asked to determine if human exposure has or may have occurred:

1. Can you DEFINITELY say that no one was bitten or scratched by the bat?
2. Did anyone come in direct contact with the bat, e.g., handle it without gloves?
3. At any time while the bat was in the house, was any person asleep in the house?

If you can confidently answer "yes" to question #1 and "no" to question #2 and #3, you can conclude that human exposure did not occur.

The following is recommended for capturing a bat in your home:

• Wear leather gloves and avoid direct skin contact with the bat.
• Avoid damage to the bat's head.Confine the bat to one room (close the windows, the room doors and closet doors).
• Turn on the lights if the room is dark.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• Cover the bat with a coffee can or similar container.
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the can, trapping the bat.
• Tape the cardboard tightly to the can.It may be necessary to use a net or long pole with a piece of duct tape (sticky side out) to capture the bat.

If, from the questions above, you believe human exposure occurred, contact your vet or wildlife specialist for assistance on shipping the specimen to a state lab. Also contact your doctor and our health department as soon as possible. If capture took place at night or on a week-end, or if you have problems contacting any of the above, place container holding live bat in a cool place. If bat appears dead place container holding bat in a freezer.

MOST BAT-RELATED POST EXPOSURE TREATMENT CAN BE AVOIDED IF THE BAT IS CAPTURED AND TESTED.

Where can I get more information?

The Illinois Department of Public Health or your local health department should be contacted for more information concerning animal exposures and rabies.

Important Phone Numbers:

Robinson Hospital for Animals
10499 N State Highway 1
Robinson Il 62454
546-5428

James Butler
Wildlife Specialist
US Department of Agriculture
20969 N 200th Street
Oblong Il 62449
Office: 618/569-3109
Mobile: 618/292-3979

Crawford County Humane Society
911 E Wilkin
Robinson Il 62454
544-8698