The Chicago State Health Department has issued a warning that people who recently attended an outdoor concert at the popular Salt Shed music venue may have been exposed to bats that spread rabies. Authorities say the possible bites or scratches occurred at the concert venue on September 12.

In a release, the department noted that most bats in and around the Chicago area have rabies, though not all. “If you attended a concert and were bitten or scratched by a bat, or if you had direct contact with a bat, contact us to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP),” the release said. Contact a health care provider as soon as possible.” Officials say the concerns are for anyone who was at the venue as they may have either been bitten or scratched by the bats – or even just come in physical contact with bare skin.

However, experts believe that bat bites are extremely difficult to detect and cannot be easily felt, but may leave marks that are not visible to the naked eye because their teeth are small. “If you attended the concert but did not come into contact with the bats, you do not need to take any further action,” the release said. “A bat flying above you is not a rabies risk.”

How do you get rabies from bats?

Doctors say bats can transmit the deadly rabies virus to humans through the saliva of infected animals — usually through a bite or if the saliva lands on you, and you may suffer 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 important to provide prompt and appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after exposure to bats.”

What are the symptoms of rabies?,

Rabies virus or RABV is spread by direct contact and spreads rapidly. It travels along nerves to your central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord – and the damage causes neurological symptoms. From there, rabies leads to coma and death. Some symptoms include:

• high fever
• fatigue or tiredness
• Burning, itching, tingling, pain, or numbness in the bite wound
• cough
• sore throat
• muscle pain
• nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Restlessness
• recovery
• nightmare
• rapid breathing or hyperventilation
• excessive salivation
• facial paralysis
• afraid of water or drinking
• fear of the wind blowing in your face
• delirium

How can you treat rabies?,

According to doctors, there is no approved treatment for rabies once symptoms appear. However, if you have been exposed to the virus – you should contact a doctor immediately. First, clean the wound gently with soap and water and get vaccinated to prevent the virus that causes rabies.

They will also administer antibody treatment directly to the wound if you have never had a vaccine before.

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