McHenry County Confirms 1st 2026 Rabid Bat Exposure, Resident Gets PEP

3 articles · Updated · Patch · Jun 3

A McHenry County resident received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis after a bat found inside a home tested positive, marking the county’s first rabies-positive bat with human exposure of 2026.
County Animal Control collected the bat and laboratory testing confirmed rabies; officials warned that bites or scratches can be tiny and exposure may not be obvious.
Health officials said bats found indoors, active in daylight or unable to fly should be treated as potential rabies risks, even though not all bats carry the virus.
Because bats can enter through gaps as small as 3/8 inch, residents were urged to seal openings, keep pets’ rabies shots current and call Animal Control rather than handle a bat bare-handed.