Suburban Chicago hospital finds 3 bats in obstetrics unit

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) - A suburban Chicago hospital has closed its obstetrics unit temporarily after the discovery of three bats.

The Daily Southtown reports (http://trib.in/2b4jf7f) the first two bats were found earlier this month at Palos Community Hospital and one tested positive for rabies. A third bat was found over the weekend. Patients have been moved to another part of the hospital.

Hospital officials say no patients or staff came in contact with the bats, but one employee got a rabies vaccine offered as a precaution.

The hospital issued a statement saying the safety of patients and staff is a "top priority" and the unit will remain closed until the problem is solved. Wildlife consultants are working on the site.

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Information from: Southtown Star, http://southtownstar.chicagotribune.com/