Rabies is a zoonotic disease that spreads via saliva of an infected mammal and attacks the brain. This disease is always fatal without treatment. In the U.S. raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes are the most common transmitters but any mammal is capable of transmitting rabies.
For other zoonotic diseases, be sure to check out our other blog, Zoonotic Diseases Bite.
Rabies has been an issue for thousands of years. The first case mentioned was in 500 B.C. and the first treatment was not until the late 1800’s. It affects people and animals all over the world, evolving over time to transfer across species easily. But how is it transmitted and why is it talked about so often?
Rabies is transmitted from one animal or human to another by saliva of an individual who is infected. This result typically comes from a bite of an animal but not always while they are exhibiting strange behavior. It is not usually asymptomatic for long as it takes a few days before an animal or human begins to “act rabid”.
If Bitten…
If you are bitten by an animal possibly infected with rabies, wash the area and go to the emergency room ASAP. You will receive a series of preventative shots over the course of a few weeks.
This is no guarantee (especially if it has been more than a few days since a potential bite) but the chances of a positive outcome increase the sooner you seek medical attention. Once symptoms begin, rabies is fatal. There is no cure or supportive care once the physical signs start, making it important to catch early.
One of the scariest parts is the potential lengthy incubation period. It can be anywhere from days to even years before symptoms show. This makes it crucial to go to the hospital if bitten by any potentially rabid animal. A lot of factors are in play for the incubation period including animal type, age, overall health, bite location and bite severity.
Signs of Rabies
Symptoms may include but are not limited to
- Neurological problems involving weakness, jerky convulsions, confusion and paralysis
- Encephalitis
- Initial headaches and fever
- Respiratory failure
- Aggressive, non-fearful and/or unusual behavior
- Dizziness and seizures
- Hallucinations
- Hydrophobia in humans caused by spasms in the throat
Not all animals or humans that become infected will foam at the mouth and spasm nor will they always become aggressive or active during the day. Infected animals can also transmit the virus long before they are showing symptoms. This means strange behavior is not a definitive way to diagnose rabies. In fact, the only way to be sure is for the animal to be submitted for laboratory testing of the brain.
Pre-mortem testing for humans usually involves samples of saliva, hair, skin or spinal fluid although it’s arguably more important to receive post exposure vaccines than wait on the positive or negative results of the test. These vaccines are required to prevent the virus from getting to the nervous system. You should never try to catch, trap or relocate an animal you suspect has rabies, only trained professionals who wear PPE should handle any wildlife.
While there are technically different strains of rabies, the main difference is each one is supposed to be species specific. However, since the disease can cross the species barriers and they all have the same outcome it is not often a popular topic.
Human to human contraction is rare but not impossible. Most human to human rabies cases have come from organ donor transplantation where donors were not showing any symptoms and passed from unrelated causes. Then multiple recipients who’d received those organs began to show symptoms and eventually died. The donor was never screened for the virus prior to transplantation and the donor had been in the incubation stage of rabies for a number of days or weeks and the virus was dormant at the time of death.
Fun fact: birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates can not contract or transmit rabies.
Only mammals have a nervous system complex enough to host the disease and body temperature to incubate it long enough to become infectious.
Temperature plays an important role in the viral disease being prevalent in certain regions. For example, rabies does not exist at all in Antarctica. The virus can survive while a host is frozen but does not last long in fluctuating cool temperatures. It can also survive outside of the body for a short period of time in saliva but is easily destroyed by direct sunlight and extreme heat, household cleaners, high humidity and classic soap and water.
Common myths may include infection from physical contact with fur, blood, urine or feces from possibly infected animals or even skunk spray. This is ultimately not true and rabies can only be transferred via saliva.
Rabies is responsible for about 60,000 human deaths annually. Most cases are from canines and bats in Asia and Africa but rabies is present in 150 countries. While less common in the U.S. due to vaccines available for both humans and animals and strong recommendations to seek medical care if bitten it is still important to be educated on the matter. Many states also require pets to be vaccinated at an affordable price which lowers the risk of transmission between humans and overall case numbers.
The vaccine is expensive for humans and has an expiration date but has limited side effects and is proven to be an effective measure at preventing contraction. Pre-exposure vaccines are much less invasive and costly than post-exposure treatment in the emergency room. It is strongly recommended to get the pre-exposure vaccines if you are regularly exposed to or handling wildlife.
Summary
While rare, non bite exposure is possible. For this to happen saliva would have to come in contact with an open wound or mucous membrane like eyes, nose or mouth to be infected.
Because of it’s aggressive nature, the best way to steer clear of rabies all together is by vaccination and avoiding direct contact with wildlife. If you have any unwanted animals sharing your home, have Prickly Pear humanely remove and relocate them. After they have been safely evacuated, Prickly Pear will then repair any damage they may have caused and close up all entry points so they will not return. Even if you do not have an active animal issue, we offer inspections to prevent any future unnecessary residents. Keeping wildlife in the wild is the best way to keep your family safe and prevent the transmission of diseases.