What is Rabies?
Rabies disease is caused by a virus infecting the nerve tissue, spinal cord, and brain of a mammal. It causes inflammation of the tissues around the brain and nerves, and the disease is always fatal to its host.
What animals can get rabies?
Only mammals carry rabies. It is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes. Pets and livestock can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to prevent infection.
How is rabies spread to humans?
People usually get exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites or scratches them. Exposure can also occur if saliva from a rabid animal enters an open cut or mucous membrane (eyes, nose or mouth).
What should I do if I am potentially exposed to rabies?
- Wash all wounds thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately even if the wound seems minor.
- Healthy dogs, cats and ferrets that have bitten or potentially exposed a human can be quarantined and observed for 10 days following the exposure. If the animal remains healthy during this period, it did not transmit rabies at the time of the bite.
- Management of animals other than dogs, cats and ferrets depends on many factors such as species, circumstances of the bite, the biting animal’s history, and the animal’s potential for exposure to rabies. These situations are managed on a case-by-case basis.
- If an animal cannot be observed or tested for rabies, as is common with many types of wildlife, treatment may be necessary for the people exposed
- What is the treatment for people exposed to rabies?
The treatment after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) plus 4 doses of rabies vaccine given over a two week period.
If there is a large enough bite wound, the HRIG is administered directly into the wound. The first dose of vaccine is given at the same time and the remaining injections are given on days 3, 7 and 14 following the initial injection. For individuals with weakened immune systems, a fifth dose of vaccine may be required.
A person who has already been vaccinated for rabies and is exposed again must receive two booster doses of vaccine, three days apart. These individuals do not need the HRIG injection.
What can people do to protect themselves against rabies?
- Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.
- Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.
- Be sure your pet dogs, cats and ferrets are properly immunized against rabies.
- Keep family pets indoors at night. Never leave a pet outside unattended or let them roam free.
- Do not attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of bird seed or other foods that may attract wild animals.
- Feed pets indoors.
- Tightly cap or put away garbage cans.
- Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage and cap your chimney with screens.
- If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away. Bring children and pets indoors and alert neighbors who are outside. You may contact a nuisance wildlife control expert who will remove the animal for a fee. These professionals can be found in your telephone directory under pest control.
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How do I protect my pet from rabies?
The best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to vaccinate them and keep their shots up-to-date. If your pet is injured by another animal or presents with an unknown wound after being outdoors contact your veterinarian for medical care. Your pet may need to be quarantined for a short period of time to assure they were not exposed to a rabid animal.
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