Health department issues warning after rabid bat found inside home, resident exposed in McHenry County

Key Points:

• A bat found inside a McHenry County home tested positive for rabies, marking the first rabid bat case in the county for 2026, and a resident exposed to the bat has been recommended to undergo rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
• The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) advises residents to contain bats found indoors by isolating them in a room or covering them with a bucket, then contacting Animal Control for safe collection and testing.
• Rabies in Illinois is primarily transmitted through bats via direct contact with saliva or nervous tissue, and while potentially fatal if untreated, it is not contagious between humans.
• Bats play an important ecological role by consuming large numbers of insects, but residents should take precautions to prevent bats from entering homes by securing screens, capping chimneys, and sealing gaps around utility lines.
• The health department emphasizes not to touch or feed wild animals and to manage waste properly to avoid attracting bats and other wildlife, especially during warmer months when bats are more active.