(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Just in time for Halloween, Cook County Animal and Rabies Control has created an online interactive map showing the locations where rabid bats have been found this year.
The map shows six locations in Northern and Southern parts of the county, where six rabid bats have been found this year: Two in Chicago, one in Orland Park, one in Crestwood, one in Park Ridge and one in Winnetka.
Dr. Tom Wake, the administrator of Cook County Animal and Rabies Control, said the map was created to raise awareness about rabies prevention.
"It's important to remember that a significant number of these bats were found inside people's homes," said Wake in a statement. "Pets who primarily stay indoors have the potential to be exposed to rabies. Ensuring your dogs and cats are current on rabies and other vaccinations will help keep them healthy and happy."
He said it's a misconception that cats cannot be exposed. According to Wake, in 2019 cats were diagnosed with rabies nearly four times more frequently than dogs nationally.
Rabies can be fatal to humans if left untreated. In the US, rabies is most commonly transmitted by bats, though only about six percent of weak or sick bats captured by animal control officials in the U.S. test positive for the rabies virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other common carriers of rabies include skunks, raccoons and foxes.
