By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – Discovering a bat in your home can be distressing by itself, but it can also present another risk: rabies.

The McLean County Health Department has already received nearly 200 calls this year on bats in homes, and Cory Dawson, a Disease Intervention Specialist with the health department, said bats are the leading cause of rabies in the United States.

“Because their bites are so needle-sharp and so tiny, they can penetrate easily, you may not even know you were bit or scratched unless you know where to look. They’re almost undetectable,” he said.

If you do happen to find a bat in your home, Dawson said to evacuate the room and contain the bat if you can. While bats aren’t typically aggressive, rabies can lead to increased aggression.

If the bat makes contact with anyone, it’s best to wash the wound and contact a medical professional immediately. If you are exposed to rabies, then it’s necessary to get vaccinated before symptoms occur.

Dawson said people often ask about symptoms of rabies, but there’s no human cure for the disease once it takes shape.

“Once symptoms have started, it’s already too late,” he said.

Rabies is preventable, but once symptoms show, the disease is almost always deadly. Bats are most active in people’s homes in the spring and summer months.

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