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Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The disease is usually fatal, killing most mammals (warm-blooded animals and humans) that become infected with the rabies virus and develop the disease. Prompt and appropriate treatment, after being bitten and before the disease develops, can stop the infection and prevent the disease. The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of rabid animals and can be transmitted to humans or other animals by getting saliva from an infected animal in a bite or open wound, the eye, or the mouth.
Human cases of rabies have occurred after close exposure to a bat without an obvious sign or recollection of a bite. Only mammals get rabies; birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians do not. Not all rabid animals foam at the mouth and appear mad. Infected animals can be very calm and tame. Improved vaccination programs have been effective in preventing rabies in pets. Now, most cases of rabies occur in wild animals (mainly raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes). Other wild animals with significant numbers of rabies cases include mongooses in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, coyotes, and groundhogs. Other wild animals can contract rabies. In recent years, cats have become the most common domestic animal infected with rabies because many cats are not vaccinated and are exposed to rabid wildlife while hunting. Rabies also occurs in dogs and cattle in significant numbers. The disease has also been diagnosed in horses, goats, sheep, swine, and ferrets. Rabies can be prevented in cats, dogs, ferrets, and some livestock with the use of licensed rabies vaccines. With the approval of the state agency responsible for animal rabies control, the use of licensed oral vaccines for the mass immunization of wildlife is possible in selected situations.
Improved rabies vaccination programs for pets and better treatment for people who have been bitten have dramatically reduced the number of human rabies cases in this country. The majority of recent human cases, which were acquired in the United States, have resulted from exposures to bats. Dogs are still a significant source of rabies in other countries. Be aware of this risk when traveling outside of the United States. To prevent the spread of rabies to humans keep your pet's vaccinations up-to-date and avoid contact with wild animals.
Have your veterinarian vaccinate your cats, dogs, ferrets, and selected livestock. Keep the vaccinations up-to-date. Your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination in your locality. Reduce the possibility of exposure to rabies by keeping your animals on your property. Don't let pets roam free. Don't leave garbage or pet food outside because it may attract wild or stray animals. Wild animals should not be kept as pets. They are a potential rabies threat to their owners and to others. Observe all wild animals from a distance, even if they seem friendly. A rabid wild animal may act tame. Don't go near it. If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to the city or county animal control department.
Don't panic - but don't ignore the bite either. Wash the wound thoroughly and vigorously with soap and lots of water. If possible, capture the animal under a large box or can, or at least try to identify it before it runs away. Don't try to pick the animal up. Call the local animal control authorities to come and get the animal. If it is a wild animal, try to capture it if you can do so safely without being bitten again. If the animal cannot be captured and it must be killed to prevent its escape, don't damage the head. The brain will be needed to test for rabies. Call your physician immediately. Explain how you got bitten and follow the physician's advice. Report the bite to the local health department.
Immediately consult your veterinarian. Report the bite to the local animal control authorities. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for 45 days. Animals with expired vaccinations will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal may need to be euthanatized immediately. Alternatively, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Animals, other than dogs, cats, and livestock that are vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the USDA for that species, if bitten by a rabid animal, should be euthanatized immediately. Animals, such as ferrets, that are currently vaccinated with a vaccine approved by USDA for that species may be revaccinated immediately and placed in strict isolation for at least 90 days.
Urge the victim to see a physician immediately and to follow the physician's recommendations. Report the bite to the local health department and animal control authorities. If your pet is a cat or dog, the officials will probably have you confine the animal and watch it closely for 10 days. Immediately report any illness or unusual behavior with your pet to your local health department and veterinarian. Don't let your pet stray, and don't give your pet away. The animal must be available for observation by public health authorities or a veterinarian. Check with your veterinarian to be sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date. After the recommended observation period, have your pet vaccinated for rabies if it does not have a current rabies vaccination. Not enough is known about rabies in ferrets. Even vaccinated ferrets may have to be killed and tested if they bite someone.
It's extremely important that you notify your family physician immediately after an animal bites you. Your physician can find out if the animal has been captured. Capture and observation of the animal can affect the treatment decisions of your physician. If necessary, your physician will give you the anti-rabies treatment recommended by the United States Public Health Service and, if necessary, will also treat you for other possible infections that could result from the bite. Remember, wildlife is part of our natural heritage. Enjoy it and respect it...at a distance for the benefit of all concerned.
Keep your pet's rabies vaccination up-to-date.