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.”

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 with the rabies virus (a rabid animal). Rabies in humans is almost always a fatal disease,” CDPH said. “Therefore, it is critical to provide prompt and appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after bat exposures take place.”

Rabies virus or RABV gets transmitted through direct contact and spreads fast. It moves along nerves into your central nervous system - brain and spinal cord and damage causes neurological symptoms. From there, rabies leads to coma and death. A few symptoms include:

• High fever
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Bite wound burning, itching, tingling, pain or numbness
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Restlessness
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Fast breathing or hyperventilation
• Excessive salivation
• Facial paralysis
• Fear of water or drinking
• Fear of air being blown in your face
• Delirium

How can you treat rabies?

According to doctors, there is no approved treatment for rabies once you have symptoms. However, if you have been exposed to the virus – you must immediately contact a doctor. Firstly, clean the wound gently with soap and water and get vaccinations to prevent the virus from causing rabies.

They will also provide an antibody treatment directly to the wound if you have never been vaccinated before.

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