BLOOMINGTON -- A bat found in a Normal home late last week has tested positive for rabies, the McLean County Health Department reported Wednesday afternoon.

There was no human contact with the bat, the health department said.

The bat is the first to test positive for rabies in McLean County this year. Last year, two bats tested positive for rabies in the county and 103 tested positive statewide.

Wild animals - especially bats, raccoons and skunks - can carry rabies, a deadly disease that attacks the central nervous system. Humans get the virus from the bite or scratch of an infected animal.

The health department recommends seeking medical attention if you come in close contact with a bat or if you are bitten or scratched by a stray or wild animal; calling Animal Control at (309) 888-5060 if a bat is found inside your home; letting stray or wild animals wander off your property on their own; and making sure your dogs and cats are vaccinated and registered with the health department.