By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — As bats become more active, the public health department is warning people to avoid contact with them as a record number of the animals are testing positive for rabies.

“Last year there were an above average number of rabies cases in bats in Illinois,” Illinois Public Health Department Director Damon Arnold stated. “We’ve already received numerous phone calls this summer about people being exposed to bats. You should never try to approach or catch a bat in your home. Instead call your local animal control agency for their recommendations.”

According to Gary Ashby, environmental health specialist with the Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson County hasn’t received notification yet about any positive testing for rabies in bats for this area yet, although one has been sent to the state lab.

“I had one guy come in and he’d found a dead one in his office,” Ashby said. “No one got bit or anything, and it’s been sent to the lab.”

Only about 1 percent of bats in Southern Illinois are infected with rabies, on average, according to information from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Bats consume large quantities of insects, flying up to 20 miles per hour during their nighttime forays. Bats are becoming more active as they are going into their mating season, which is just before winter hibernation, information from SIU-C states.

According to Ruth Hughes of Jefferson County Animal Control, bats are a protected species and residents shouldn’t harm them.

“Since bats are protected, usually, if one is in a place where people can take a broom or something to shoo it out, that’s what they should do,” Hughes said. “Or, if we have to go get it out, all we can do is take it out and turn it loose. The only time we keep a bat is if it has bitten somebody, which is very, very rare. They don’t open their mouth real big, but if it happens, it’s taken to the lab to be tested.”

So far this year, 40 bats in Illinois have tested positive for rabies in 13 counties. Typically, 40 to 60 bats each year test positive for rabies in the state. During 2007, 113 bats tested positive, according to IDPH.

“You cannot tell by looking at a bat if it is rabid,” state public health veterinarian Connie Austin stated. “The animal does not have to be foaming at the mouth or be exhibiting other symptoms to have rabies. Any wild mammal, such as a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote or bat can have rabies and transmit to humans.”

According to IDPH, changes in an animal’s normal behavior, such as difficulty walking or an overall appearance of illness can be an early sign of rabies. A bat that is active during the day, found in a place where a bat is not usually seen such as in a home or on a lawn, or is unable to fly, is more likely than others to have rabies.

Recommendations for preventing the spread of rabies provided by IDPH include:

Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats and ferrets;

Seek veterinary assistance for your pet immediately if it is bitten by a wild animal or exposed to a skunk or bat;

Call the local animal control agency to remove stray animals in your neighborhood;

Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter;

Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance; and

Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.