The Chicago State Health Department has issued a warning that those who attended a recent outdoor concert that the popular Salt Shed music venue may have been exposed to rabies-carrying bats. Officials say the possible bites or scratches took place on September 12, at the concert venue. In a release, the department has mentioned that most bats in and around the Chicago area carry rabies, though not all of them.
“If you attended the concert and were bitten or scratched by a bat, or if you had direct contact with a bat, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP),” the release said. Officials say the concerns are for all those who were present at the venue as they may either be bitten or scratched by a bat - or even if they came in in physical contact with bare skin. However, experts believe that bat bites are extremely hard to detect and are not easily felt but may leave marks that are not visible to the naked eye as they have small teeth.
“If you attended the concert but did not have contact with a bat, then there are no further actions that you need to take,” the release said. “A bat flying above you is not a risk for rabies.” How do you get rabies from a bat? Doctors say bats can transmit the deadly rabies virus from the saliva of infected animals to humans - usually through a bite or if the saliva drools onto you, and you could have a minor open cut.
“People get rabies from the bite of an animal infected.