World Rabies Day: A Local Look at a Worldwide Issue

JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – September 28 is World Rabies Day, a global health observance initiated in 2007 to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts worldwide.

Rabies is a virus of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that can affect any mammal, including humans, and it continues to be widespread throughout Pennsylvania. It remains a major public health concern because it can be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected animals and is nearly 100% fatal without post-exposure treatment.

Dr. Kim Williams, of Clarion Animal Hospital, told ExploreJeffersonPA.com, “The prevalence of rabies is high in Pennsylvania.”

“So far this year in Clarion County there have been two documented cases of rabies, both in raccoons.”

Although there are no reported cases in Jefferson County, there have been six cases reported in Armstrong County (five raccoons and one groundhog) and one in Clearfield County (a bat).

Statistics also indicate that Indiana, Elk, and Forest Counties have not had any reported cases in 2019.

According to the Department of Agriculture, between 350 and 500 animals in Pennsylvania are annually confirmed in a laboratory to have rabies. The most common mammals to be affected in Pennsylvania are raccoons, bats, skunks, and cats. Statistics for 2019 show that as of the end of August, there have been 283 total reported cases in Pennsylvania, including 144 raccoons, 39 cats, 37 bats, 22 foxes, 20 skunks, eight groundhogs, three bobcats, three cattle, three horses, two dogs, one deer, and one weasel.

“I think it’s important for people to realize that rabies is in our area, and by vaccinating our pets, we’re creating a shield between rabies in wild animals and ourselves,” Dr. Williams said.

“People ask, “if my cat stays indoors, why do I have to get it vaccinated?’ I don’t know if you’ve ever had a bat in your house, but I have, and that can be exposure for your cat that you wouldn’t realize, or even for yourself. The current recommendation is, if you have a bat in your house, you should contact the Health Department because they’re considering that possible exposure.”

Due to the ongoing concern of rabies in the state, by Pennsylvania state law, dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies within four weeks after they are 12 weeks of age and must maintain a current rabies immunity as prescribed by rabies vaccine manufacturers.

“A lot of people don’t realize that if you don’t have your pet vaccinated, you can be fined,” Dr. Williams noted.

“The second thing is, if your pet isn’t vaccinated and they bite someone, all dog bites are reportable to the Health Department, and they’ll investigate it. If your dog isn’t vaccinated against rabies, they’ll advise the person to have that animal quarantined. Just keeping vaccinations current prevents that whole confusion.”

Although rabies is preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 59,000 people die from the disease around the world each year.

Beyond the importance of vaccination, it is also good to know what to watch for and when to seek treatment.

Common signs of the type of rabies known as furious rabies in animals include aggression, loss of fear, daytime activity from a nocturnal species, attraction to noise and human activity, excessive vocalization, dilated pupils, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, restlessness, drooling, and biting at objects or other animals.

Common signs of the type of rabies known as paralytic or dumb rabies in animals include decreased activity, poor coordination, hind limb weakness, and acting “dull.” Animals with paralytic rabies may also droop their lower jaws, drool, be unable to swallow, and become paralyzed before dying.

According to the Department of Agriculture, it’s important to note that not all animals with rabies show all of the signs and symptoms and most neurological or behavioral abnormalities could potentially be due to rabies.

In the case of human exposure, such as a bite or a scratch from a rabid animal, or an incident of saliva or neural tissue from a rabid animal coming into contact with an open wound or mucus membranes like the eyes, nose or mouth, immediate treatment is key.

Any bite or scratch should be immediate washed with soap and water. When a person has been bitten by a mammal that is not suspected of having rabies, the animal should be observed for a period during which it is prevented from exposing other people or animals. The Department of Health must be notified by the medical professional and will provide advice on how to proceed.

If the animal does not show signs of rabies by the end of the observation period, then it is very unlikely to have had rabies in its saliva on the day it bit the person and will be released from observation.

If the animal shows signs of rabies or dies before the observation period is over, it should be submitted for rabies testing. In some situations, such as when the mammal is a wild animal, euthanasia may be preferential to a period of observation.

In the case of an animal that is not available for observation or testing, it is recommended that the individual exposed seek immediate medical attention.

The human rabies vaccine consists of a series of four shots beginning immediately, then continuing three, seven, and fourteen days after exposure. The vaccine is considered highly effective if given before any symptoms develop.

Symptoms of rabies in humans include irritability, fatigue, headache, fever, and pain or itching at the exposure site. However, if left untreated, symptoms progress to paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, seizures, delirium, and eventually death.

While treatment is always recommended, even after symptoms have begun, once rabies reaches a later stage in humans, treatment is rarely successful, making preventative vaccination of animals and treatment following even a potential exposure all the more vital.


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