Attendees of large Chicago concert may have been exposed to bats with rabies, officials warn

The Chicago Department of Public Health is warning the public of a bat exposure at a large outdoor concert in the city.

CDPH said bats in and around the Chicago area are known to have rabies, though not all bats have the disease.

Officials said the potential exposure happened at the Goose concert at the Salt Shed on Sept. 12. The event took place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Attendees should be concerned about potential exposure to rabies if they have been bitten or scratched by a bat, or if a bat had physical contact with bare skin. Since bats have tiny teeth, a bite may not be felt or seen.

Anyone at the concert who had direct contact with a bat should immediately contact a healthcare provider to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, CDPH said. PEP includes a dose of human rabies immune globulin and four doses of vaccine, which is highly effective at preventing rabies.

No action is needed for those who did not come in direct contact with a bat at the event. A bat flying over you does not put you at risk.

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