The Jo Daviess County Health Department is alerting residents to be cautious around wild animals who could carry rabies. The alert comes after a bat in the county was found to have the disease.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed a bat in Galena tested positive for rabies.
People can get rabies if they are bitten by a rabid animal or if saliva from a rabid animal comes into contact with a person’s eye, nose, mouth or a wound.
Changes in any animal’s normal behavior, such as a bat that is active during the day, found on the ground or unable to fly, can be signs of rabies.
The department cautions residents not to handle such animals.