RABIES
Disease of mammals, most often transmitted through the bite of
a rabid animal.A majority of rabies cases occur
in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
Domestic animals are vaccinated for rabies.
Less than 10% of rabies cases are in cats, cattle, and dogs
Geographic areas of wild animals commonly infected with rabies.
In the US, people most often get rabies
from bats.
In other countries, people most often get
rabies from dogs.• In.
It is very rare that anyone ever survives rabies infection.
• Recovery of a Patient from Clinical Rabies --- Wisconsin, 2004
• http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a1.htm
Worldwide, 55,000 people die of rabies every
year.
There are only about 0-2 deaths ayear in the US
each year.
Animals with rabies my be aggressive and foaming at the
mouth
More often, animals will act timid and shy, and appear to be tame
Know the signs!never feed or approach a wild animal
be careful of pets that you do not know
don´t pet stray dogs or cats
if any animal acts strangely, call your local animal control officer for help.
Diagnosis• In animals, the brain is examined
after death to determine if rabies is present.
• In humans, many tests must be run; samples of saliva, blood, spinal fluid, and skin biopsies of hair follicles at the nape of the neck.
Symptoms
first symptoms – flu-like signs — malaise, fever, or headache, which
may last for days– discomfort at the site of bite
within days - brain dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation,
delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia, death