is an infectious that affects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy and, ultimately, death. The majority of rabies cases in the United States occur in wild animals like , skunks, , and Rabies foxes. Although domestic animals account for less than 10 percent of reported cases annually, most human Deborah J. Briggs, Ph.D. exposures occur as a result of exposure to domesticated Gerald L. Stokka, DVM, MS animals. Extension Beef Cattle Veterinarian Rabies is almost Symptoms exclusively transmitted Jeremy Van Boening, BS There are two forms of through the bite of an in- clinical rabies: “Furious fected animal. For an expo- Rabies” and “Paralytic or sure to occur, rabies virus Dumb Rabies.” Most people from infected saliva must envision the furious form of enter through an open cut, rabies, the symptoms of wound, scratch, or mucous which include: vicious membrane. Simply being in unprovoked attacks using the same area or petting an teeth and claws, hypersaliva- animal that is infected with tion, roaming long distances, the rabies virus is not consid- noticeable voice change, and ered an exposure. unusual sexual activity. Rabies virus does not Paralytic rabies, as the name survive for long periods in implies, includes ascending the environment and is easily paralysis normally beginning destroyed by soap and water in the hind limbs. The animal or common household also may have a drooping jaw disinfectants. Once saliva is and an extended tongue with dried, it is no longer consid- hypersalivation. An animal ered infectious. The virus may have one or more of the also is readily destroyed by clinical signs listed above. If bleach, ultraviolet light, and/ the animal is not euthanized, or heat. Live rabies virus will the disease will progress to not survive for more than 24 paralysis and death. hours in dead animals when Clinical rabies in an animal temperatures reach 70oF. usually begins with a distinct However, the virus will sur- and noticeable change in vive for extended periods at temperament. Cats and low or freezing temperatures. horses usually exhibit furious Although human rabies rabies, whereas dogs and deaths are rare, it is estimated cattle usually develop the that at least 40,000 people in paralytic form of the disease. the United States receive post Wild animals may become exposure prophylaxis annu- disoriented, confused and ally. A course of rabies lose all fear of humans. postexposure vaccination In the Midwest, rabies is includes administration of endemic in the skunk popula- Rabies Immune Globulin and tion. Rabid skunks can shed five doses of vaccine which virus in their saliva for Kansas State University cost over $1000. Public health several days before they Agricultural Experiment Station and costs associated with rabies exhibit typical clinical signs of prevention and control now rabies. Rabid skunks may Cooperative Extension Service exceed $300 million annually. change their normal noctur-

1 nal behavior and may become mals. If your pet is bitten by a ing countries such as Asia, active in the daytime. They wild animal, seek veterinary Africa, and Latin America also may exhibit signs of assistance immediately. and cause thousands of aggression, confusion, and/or • Report stray animals to human rabies deaths every paralysis. Skunks infected your local animal control year. with rabies may or may not agency because the animals' spray a human or another disease status is unknown. Treatment animal. The spray from a • Spay or neuter your pets Appropriate postexposure skunk is not infected with to reduce the number of treatment of individuals rabies virus and does not unwanted animals that may exposed to rabies will prevent constitute an exposure. not be properly cared for or the disease from occurring. routinely vaccinated. Rabies treatment for a human Prevention who has never received rabies There is no cure for rabies The United States Center vaccination consists of a after symptoms of the disease for Disease Control recom- series of five injections of occur, making prevention and mends avoiding contact with in the upper control extremely important. unfamiliar animals and offers arm one each on days 0, 3, Because most human expo- these tips: 7,14, and 28. Rabies Immune sures occur through contact • Enjoy wild animals from Globulin (RIG) is also admin- with infected domestic afar. Do not handle, feed, or istered at the time of the first animals, we can break this unintentionally attract wild injection. If the individual link by keeping our pets animals with open garbage has received rabies vaccina- current on their rabies vacci- cans or litter. tion in the past, he/she nation. Acting as a respon- • Never adopt wild should receive a series of two sible pet owner can help animals or bring them into boosters in the upper arm. prevent the spread of rabies. your home. Do not try to One on day 0 and the other A responsible pet owner nurse sick animals to health. on day 3. In this case RIG is should: Call animal control or a not administered. • Keep vaccinations reliable animal rescue agency Scenarios and Course current for all animals. Most for assistance. of Action rabies vaccines are licensed to • Teach children never to If a person is bitten or be administered at 3 months handle unfamiliar animals, scratched by a or wild of age. In 1999, a new vaccine wild or domestic, even if they animal known to be involved was licensed for use in 8- appear friendly. in transmitting rabies he/she week-old cats and dogs. A • Prevent bats from should immediately wash the booster is given one year after entering living quarters or wound with soap and water. the primo vaccination, and occupied spaces in homes, If the animal is available for then the animal is vaccinated schools, churches, and other testing, it should be hu- according to whether the similar areas. If a bat is found manely destroyed and vaccine was a one- or a three- in a room with a sleeping or submitted to a diagnostic year vaccine. incapacitated person and laboratory for rabies testing Note: Rabies vaccine must exposure cannot be ruled out, and examination. This can be be administered under the the bat should be tested for accomplished through a local supervision of a licensed the presence of rabies infec- veterinarian, animal control veterinarian. If a pet is tion immediately. If the bat is office, or health department. vaccinated by a private positive for rabies or unavail- If the animal is unavailable individual and the pet able for testing, the exposed for testing, rabies treatment exposes someone, the pet will person should receive should be initiated as soon as be considered unvaccinated postexposure treatment possible. and may have to be destroyed immediately. If an individual is involved or subjected to a lengthy • When traveling abroad, in an unprovoked attack by a quarantine. avoid direct contact with wild dog or cat that has not been • Keep pets under direct animals and be especially vaccinated or is not current supervision if they are in an careful around dogs in on its vaccination, the animal area where they may come developing countries. Canine should be humanely de- into contact with wild ani- rabies is common in develop-

2 stroyed and submitted for observed for 45 days. If the In the case of any exposure laboratory examination. If dog or cat is unvaccinated or or potential exposure contact the animal cannot be located, not current on its vaccination, your physician or public it should be assumed rabid it should be humanely health office immediately. and treatment should be destroyed. If the owner initiated as soon as possible. chooses not to have the Additional Information: If a person is bitten by a animal destroyed, it must be Http://www.vet.ksu.edu/ dog or cat that is current on quarantined for six months depts/rabies/index.htm its vaccination, the local and revaccinated one month Http://www.cdc.gov/ health officer may choose to before its release. The local ncdod/dvrd/rabies/ confine and observe the health officer must specify the http://www.avma.org/ animal for 10 days. If the quarantine facilities. pubhlth/default.htm#rab animal sickens or dies within Livestock exposed to rabid the 10-day period, it should animals should be slaugh- be submitted for rabies tered within seven days or testing. quarantined for six months. If a vaccinated dog or cat is Livestock are considered to be bitten by or exposed to a “dead end hosts” and it may rabid animal, it should be not be necessary to quaran- revaccinated immediately and tine the entire herd.

3 Brand names appearing in this publication are for identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of others not mentioned.

Publications from Kansas State University are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu

Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Deborah J. Briggs et al., Rabies, Kansas State University, January 2000.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service MF-962 January 2000 It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. Kansas State University is an equal opportunity organization. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Marc A. Johnson, Director.

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