DeKALB — The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the first case of human rabies in Illinois since 1954 on Tuesday. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the diagnosis after testing at its lab, according to a Tuesday Illinois news release.

A Lake County resident in his 80s woke up to find a bat on his neck in mid-August. The individual refused post exposure rabies treatment despite the bat testing positive for rabies. 

One month later, the individual began experiencing symptoms like neck pain, headache, difficulty controlling his arms, finger numbness and difficulty speaking. The man then died as a result of contracting human rabies, according to the news release. 

“Sadly, this underscores the importance of raising public awareness about the risk of rabies exposure in the United States,” said Mark Pfister, executive director of the Lake County Health Department, in the news release. “Rabies infections in people are rare in the United States; however, once symptoms begin, rabies is almost always fatal, making it vital that an exposed person receive appropriate treatment to prevent the onset of rabies as soon as possible.”

Wildlife experts found a bat colony in the individual’s home. Bats are the most commonly identified species with rabies in Illinois. The only way to find out if a bat has rabies is through laboratory testing.

“Rabies has the highest mortality rate of any disease,” said IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike in the news release. “However, there is a life-saving treatment for individuals who quickly seek care after being exposed to an animal with rabies. If you think you may have been exposed to rabies, immediately seek medical attention and follow the recommendations of health care providers and public health officials.”

More information about rabies can be found on the IDPH website.