Three infected bats identified on Cook County’s annual ‘Halloween Rabid Bat Map’

For children, Halloween is a day dominated by candy acquisition. For adults, it’s an excuse to throw a party, or scare some of those children during their quest for candy glory. In Cook County, though, it’s also Rabid Bat Map day.

For the past eight years, The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) has released an updated interactive map showing where infected bats have been identified throughout the year. This year, the numbers are at an all-time low, with just three confirmed bats.

“On average, we tend to hover around seven or eight positive bats,” ARC Deputy Administrator Megan Carolan said. “We still need to be cautious and know that bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Cook County.”

The map is supposed to be fun, but it’s also intended to raise awareness about a deadly disease.

ARC tests bats only if they’ve had known exposure to a human or a pet. According to Carolan, all of the identified bats this year were found inside homes in the city of Chicago.

According to the map, those locations were on the 100 Block Of South Spring Avenue, the 1800 Block of Vermont and the 1800 Block of Vivian Ct.

Humans who have been bitten can be vaccinated and cured, but almost all patients die if they don’t receive treatment. Pets are more difficult to protect.

“Rabies is a completely preventable disease and is always fatal to unvaccinated pets, ARC Administrator Dr. Mamadou Diakhate said via a press release. “Ensuring your dogs and cats are current on rabies vaccinations and other vaccinations is critical to their health and yours.”

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, important steps to avoid contracting rabies include never adopting wild animals, resisting the urge to feed wild animals and maintaining homes and buildings. If a bat is discovered inside your home, you should not let it out before speaking with animal control.

“The point of doing the bat map is, yeah, it’s fun and it’s cute, but also we want people to be aware that we definitely still see rabies in Cook County,” Carolan said.