Illinois man dies from rabies after being bitten by bat

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — An Illinois antheral successful his 80s died aft contracting rabies from a bat that seemingly spot him portion sleeping successful his home.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says the Lake County nonmigratory awoke to a bat connected his cervix successful mid-August. The carnal was captured and officials accidental it tested affirmative for rabies. Additionally, wildlife experts recovered a bat colony successful the home.

The antheral was advised that helium needed to commencement being treated for rabies, but helium reportedly declined. A period later, helium began experiencing symptoms accordant with rabies, including cervix pain, headache, trouble controlling his arms, digit numbness, and trouble speaking. And helium aboriginal died, according to the section of health.

Officials accidental those who had interaction with secretions from the idiosyncratic were assessed and fixed rabies preventive attraction arsenic needed.

“Rabies has the highest mortality complaint of immoderate disease,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike successful a statement. “However, determination is life-saving attraction for individuals who rapidly question attraction aft being exposed to an carnal with rabies. If you deliberation you whitethorn person been exposed to rabies, instantly question aesculapian attraction and travel the recommendations of wellness attraction providers and nationalist wellness officials.”

This was the archetypal quality lawsuit of rabies reported by the authorities of Illinois since 1954. While cases of quality rabies successful the U.S. are rare, officials accidental exposures are inactive communal with an estimated 60,000 Americans receiving the post-exposure vaccination bid each year.

The rabies microorganism infects the cardinal tense system, yet causing illness successful the encephalon and death. Without preventive treatment, rabies is typically fatal.

Officials accidental radical usually cognize erstwhile they person been bitten by a bat, but the animals person precise tiny teeth and the wound people whitethorn not beryllium casual to see. If you find yourself adjacent a bat and are not definite if you were exposed, don’t merchandise it arsenic it should beryllium captured for rabies testing. Call your doc oregon section wellness section to find if you could person been exposed to rabies and if you request preventive treatment. And telephone your section carnal attraction and power to safely region the bat.