The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says it’s seen a “higher-than-normal rabies call volume and bat submission for this time of year,” but the agency says the numbers are not alarming.
As of September 9, the Rabies surveillance map shows 61 animals have tested positive so far in 2026, an increase over the past two years.
It comes as the CDC reported a spike in rabies cases at the federal level among animals this summer, which has led to a rise in human exposures across the country.
In a new health advisory, the CDC urged doctors to be on the lookout for possible exposures and to administer vaccines and treatments as needed.
Rabies is a viral disease that is deadly if people don’t receive medical care before symptoms start, according to the CDC.
Rabies spreads primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal, and the animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.
From July through August, the CDC said it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period last year and also received reports from at least eight state health departments about the increased use of rabies shots, or of errors in the administration of the post-exposure regimen.
According to IDPH, the CDC has not notified the agency which states are included.
The disease is rare in people in the United States, with fewer than 10 deaths reported each year. Pet vaccinations, which are required by law in all 50 states, have significantly reduced the risk.
“Even if your pets are indoor or monitored closely, going on walks or being in the backyard, they could be at risk for coming into contact with a rabid bat for example,” said Dr. Emily Winson, an associate veterinarian at West Loop Veterinary Care. “Our indoor cats that never go outside, unfortunately rabid bats do try to seek shelter indoors. If indoor cats are not up to date with vaccines, they could be at risk if a bat gets inside through a small hole or crevice in your home.”
Anyone in a room with a bat is encouraged to contact their healthcare provider and animal control to remove the bat and test it.
“Never touch a wild animal, whether it looks healthy or injured, it’s best to leave it to the professionals and call animal control,” said Winson.
Free rabies vaccines are available for cats and dogs through the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control at various locations.
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