LAKE COUNTY, Unwell. (WGN) — An aged Illinois gentleman has died from rabies — the initial human case in the state’s history because 1954.
In mid-August, the Lake County gentleman in his 80s woke up with a bat on his neck, according to the Illinois Office of Public Health and fitness. The species was collected and subsequently examined beneficial for rabies.
Health and fitness officers urged the male to get started submit-publicity rabies procedure, due to its large mortality fee, but the gentleman declined.
A person month afterwards, officials explained the male started encountering indicators dependable with rabies — which include neck pain, headache, problem controlling his arms, finger numbness and issue speaking.
The rabies virus infects the central anxious procedure, in the long run triggering illness in the mind and death. Without preventive therapy, rabies is ordinarily deadly.
“Rabies has the optimum mortality price of any condition,” claimed IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “However, there is existence-preserving treatment method for folks who speedily request care soon after becoming exposed to an animal with rabies. If you imagine you may possibly have been exposed to rabies, immediately seek out medical consideration and adhere to the suggestions of health care vendors and community wellness officials.”
If you find your self in near proximity to a bat and are not guaranteed if you were being uncovered, do not launch the bat as it must be correctly captured for rabies testing. Connect with your doctor or nearby wellness division to assist figure out if you could have been exposed and connect with animal manage to eliminate the bat.
So significantly this year, 30 bats have analyzed constructive for rabies in Illinois.
