The Winnebago County Health Department advises healthcare providers to be on heighten awareness for potential human exposure to rabies. Bats are the primary species identified with rabies in Illinois. The likelihood of human-bat contact increases during summer because of bat migration and feeding patterns.
Although not all bats carry rabies, bats in Winnebago County and the surrounding area have tested positive for the virus in prior years. In 2023, two (2) bats tested positive for rabies in Winnebago County.
