Rabies Still a Threat?

Rabies Still a Threat?

A news article by Kamryn Kirkham, Stevens County 4-Her

Everyone has probably heard of rabies before; whether it was a raccoon, a skunk, or a pet. Rabies affects warm-blooded mammals. This can include livestock, wildlife, and household pets. When people think of rabies they think of a crazed animal, frothing at the mouth. However, rabies expresses itself in many ways and can vary between species.

While rabies exposure is most known to occur through animal bites, there are two types of exposures, a bite and non-bite. A bite is any puncture of the skin by teeth. A non-bite exposure occurs when saliva, brain tissue, or spinal fluid from an animal with rabies enters any scratch, abrasion, open wound, eyes, or mouth. The petting of a rabid animal is not considered an exposure. In extremely rare cases it can be spread though aerosol infection or organ transplants.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease which means that the disease can be transmitted between animals and humans. While cases involving livestock have occurred, the most common exposure in the U.S. is from wild animals such as bats. Humans infected with rabies will not begin to exhibit symptoms until up to 2-3 months after the initial exposure. After symptoms begin to show, death is imminent within 2-10 days. Recovery after clinical signs appear is extremely rare. If someone is exposed to the saliva of a suspected animal they should seek medical attention immediately. In some cases the animal will be quarantined, in others the brain of the animal will be tested immediately in a lab for results. If positive, the exposed individual will receive immunoglobulin at the site of exposure and will follow the rabies vaccination protocol. Recovery is more likely the sooner the post-exposure prophylaxis occurs.

There are two main forms of rabies; furious rabies and paralytic rabies. Furious rabies is when an animal will present as unusually aggressive, hyperactive and exhibit hypersalivation. In this form hydrophobia is common as well. Paralytic rabies also known as “dumb rabies” is characterized by progressive paralysis. This begins at the site of exposure such as where you were bitten and spreads throughout the body. Hypersalivation is common in this version as well.

In cattle, rabies expresses itself a bit differently. Clinical signs include anorexia, lameness, and aggression. Rabid cattle often appear to be “choking” which leads to veterinarians and owners placing their hand and or arm into the calf’s mouth to try and dislodge the “object”. This leads to the most common form of exposure in cases of rabies in livestock. Cattle can also appear neurologically impaired in their behavior and movements.

I recently had a very personal experience with rabies and learned quite a lot about this virus in the process. What is important to remember is that if any behavior in an animal is unusual whether a pet or not, be cautious. And if exposure has already occurred, it’s imperative to consult with experts to determine appropriate next steps. While it was a hard day seeing an animal I had known since its infancy in such a situation, no animal is worth the safety of those around you. More so, it’s best for these animals to be euthanized humanely than waiting for the virus to organically bring them to death.

None of this is to strike fear into our community, but simply awareness. The absolute best thing you can do is stay alert of wild or domestic animals behaving unusually. Always seek medical advice if you believe you have been exposed.

The case in Stevens County in late April of this year proves that rabies cases still occur in and around our community. In this instance, the infected animal was a barn cat whose rabies virus was later typed back to the South Central Skunk variant. While it may be challenging, it is still important to keep all companion animals up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. In the event of rabies exposure, it’s critical for your local public health department, medical care providers, and personal veterinarian to work together for the most successful outcome.

Where can you get more information?

• Your Local Health Department
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Epidemiologic Services Section at (877) 427-7317
• http://www.cdc.gov/health/default.htm
• Your doctor, nurse, or local health center
• Your personal veterinarian