IDPH reminds of mosquito, tick and bat risks ahead of summer

(WAND) — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is warning Illinoisans that warmer weather means increased potential for exposure to illnesses carried by animal or pest bites.

"Spring and summer provide so many opportunities for outdoor fun all across Illinois," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "It is important to remember that some common biting pests and animals may be carrying disease that can cause serious human illnesses. Illinois residents should take precautions like wearing bug repellent and vaccinating their pets against rabies, among other measures, to keep themselves and their communities healthy and safe."

The IDPH said the three main animals of concern this time of year are mosquitos, ticks and bats.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos can carry West Nile Virus after feeding on infected birds. In 2025, 150 total human cases and 10 deaths connected to the virus were confirmed in Illinois.

Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms can last a few days to a few weeks. Most people infected will not show symptoms, but in rare cases West Nile Virus can lead to paralysis, brain or nerve infections, or death.

Anyone older than 60 or with a weakened immune system is at the highest risk for severe illness.

The IDPH is urging Illinoisans to "fight the bite" by practicing the three "R's" – reduce, repel and report:

Reduce – Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Refresh any sources of standing water where mosquitos can breed.
Repel – When outside, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered insect repellent.
Report – Report locations where you see standing water sitting for more than a week including roadside ditches, flooded yards, or similar locations that can produce mosquitos.

Ticks

Ticks can spread several potentially serious illnesses such as Lyme disease. In 2025, the first confirmed case of Powassan virus, a possibly deadly illness, was diagnosed in an Illinois resident, but the IDPH said it is unclear i the case was contracted within the state.

According to the IDPH, the best protective measure against tickborne illness is preventing tick bites by avoiding wooded, bushy areas with high grass, wearing light-colored clothes to find ticks easier, and using insect repellent.

Bats

The IDPH said rabies is most commonly found in bats. Two bats have tested positive for rabies, including one in Sangamon County, so far in 2026.

The greatest risk for exposure comes from bats that make their way into people's homes. If a bat is found inside a home, the IDPH recommends trying to cover it with a container and contacting animal control to get it tested for rabies.

Anyone who has been bitten by any animal should immediately go to a doctor. The IDPH said bite wounds can become infected and if the animal is high risk for rabies, treatment needs to begin quickly.

More information on rabies, tickborne illnesses, and West Nile Virus can be found on the IDPH website.