Man with colony of bats in house dies in first human case of rabies in state since 1954

State public well being officers reported the primary human case of rabies in Illinois since 1954 after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed the prognosis Tuesday after testing at its lab.

In mid-August, a Lake County resident in his 80s awoke to a bat on his neck. The bat was later captured and examined constructive for rabies. The person declined postexposure rabies therapy. A month later, he started experiencing rabies signs, together with neck ache, headache, problem controlling his arms, finger numbness and problem talking. Consultants discovered a bat colony within the man’s house, in response to a information launch from the Illinois Division of Public Well being

The person, who was not recognized within the information launch, later died. Officers stated individuals who had contact with secretions from the person have been assessed and given rabies preventive therapy as wanted.

“Rabies has the best mortality fee of any illness,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike stated in an announcement. “Nevertheless, there may be life-saving therapy for people who rapidly search care after being uncovered to an animal with rabies. Should you suppose you might have been uncovered to rabies, instantly search medical consideration and comply with the suggestions of well being care suppliers and public well being officers.”

An estimated 60,000 individuals in America are uncovered to rabies every year. Nevertheless, human circumstances rabies in america are uncommon, with about 1 to three circumstances reported every year. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, in the end inflicting illness within the mind and dying. With out preventive therapy, it’s often lethal, in response to the Illinois Division of Public Well being.

Whereas individuals often know when if have been bitten by a bat, bats have very small tooth and the chunk mark will not be simple to see. Anybody in shut proximity to a bat and unsure in the event that they have been uncovered ought to search medical consideration. Anybody who wakes up with a bat in the home mustn’t launch the bat. It needs to be captured for rabies testing, in response to public well being officers. Native animal care and management businesses can safely take away the bat.