Rabid bat found in Barrington home; fourth in Lake County this year

The discovery of a rabid bat in a Barrington home spurred the Lake County Health Department Thursday to issue a warning urging residents to avoid contact with bats.

A total of four bats have tested positive for rabies in Lake County this year. In the most recent case, the Barrington homeowner collected the bat safely and did not have contact with the animal.

The health department warns that, untreated, rabies is almost always fatal, affecting the nervous system of humans and other animals. Most commonly, people get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal.

In other cases, people can contact rabies if any infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, comes in contact with a person's nose, mouth, an open wound or gets into the eyes, according to the department.

Rabies is preventable if the exposure is realized and if treatment is initiated promptly. In 2008, nine bats tested positive for rabies in Lake County.

The health department urges anyone who comes in direct contact with a bat or who notices a bat acting in an unusual manner, such as flying in daylight or lying on the ground or in a home, to contact them at (847) 949-9925.

If a bat is inside the home, it should not be chased away, because it may be needed for rabies testing, the department says.

While bats can transmit rabies, they are also beneficial animals. Lake County officials say some species can eat up to 600 insects in an hour. Besides mosquitoes, bats eat crop-destroying pests, including moths, beetles and grasshoppers.