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📸 Credit: Kane County Public Health Committee presentation
Cases of potential human rabies exposure have been steadily climbing in Kane County since 2020.
During an August 19 presentation to the county’s Public Health Committee, Assistant Director for Communicable Disease Apryll Elliott reported 126 cases in 2025, which marks a steep increase from the 28 cases documented in 2020.
Here’s what to know:
Breaking down the exposure source: The presentation showed that domestic animals like dogs and cats accounted for 43% of cases, which was the same percentage as bats. Wild animals accounted for 14%, and a small portion came from unknown sources.
Bats pose the biggest risk: According to the presentation, bats are responsible for most human rabies cases in the U.S. Officials said that in some cases, if a bat gets into a room, a bite can go unnoticed due to its small fangs (particularly if that bite happens while someone is sleeping).
Other sources: Raccoons, skunks, and foxes are common wild animal carriers, and domestic animals can become infected if they’re not vaccinated.
If you think you may have been exposed, officials advise immediately contacting your local health department, and, if possible, getting the animal tested. Here’s more guidance from the CDC.
The next Kane County Animal Control rabies vaccine clinic will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 4:30–7PM at 4060 Keslinger Road in Geneva. The cost for a one-ear vaccine is $30 for neutered/spayed pets, $55 for non-neutered pets, and it’s $15 for a microchip.
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