As the weather warms up and people spend more time outdoors, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, reminds residents about the importance of taking precautions against animal bites, which can cause illness.  He said, “Bats and other wild animals can transmit rabies, a virus that affects the nervous system.  A bite from ticks, bats, or wild animals can cause severe illness and even death in some cases, so it is important to protect yourself against bites.”  While bats are the primary carrier of rabies in Illinois, any wild mammal such as a raccoon, skunk, fox, or coyote can have rabies.  Rabies can be contracted through a bite from an infected animal, or when saliva from a rabid animal gets directly into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or a wound.  Seek medical attention if an animal bites you so the doctor can determine if rabies treatment is needed.  Actions to avoid rabies include teaching children never to handle unfamiliar animals.  Keep all vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets up-to-date.  If you find a bat in your home, do not release it until you have called your local health department.  There have been a few reports of bats in houses in the past couple of months.