The real Facts about Rabies

This article was printed in the Sunday paper of the Empire Tribune, in the Lifestyle section, which is not published online. The printed version lacked the local statistics and also showed a picture of a raccoon, which I did not submit.

I would have NEVER posted a picture of a raccoon with a rabies article, simply due to the fact that 99% of all confirmed rabies cases in Erath County originate from the skunk. The other 1% goes to the bats.

So here is the full article with statistics!

Know your Neighborhood Wildlife - The Real Facts about Rabies
by TOM PIPERSON & BIRGIT SOMMER

---

Have you ever wondered about the dangers of rabies? Birgit Sommer, licensed wildlife rehabilitator and director of the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, deals with these issues on a regular basis and would like to set the record straight about some urban legends surrounding the rabies virus.

Even though we enjoy the benefits of 21st Century medicine, rabies is still dangerous and even deadly to its victims, both animal and human. Understanding the facts about rabies, as provided in this article, can help prevent the spread of the disease, or even save a life.

During a month-long survey of Erath County residents, Ms. Sommer gathered the 10 most frequently asked questions about rabies and has done the necessary research to provide the correct answers. The information provided is based on official Government sources such as the Infectious Disease Control Unit of the Texas Department of State Health Services as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1. What exactly is rabies?
Answer:
Rabies is a contagious virus that can cause death in people and certain animals and is nearly always fatal if not treated in a timely manner.

2. How is rabies transmitted?
Answer:
The rabies virus is usually transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, most commonly through a bite. The virus can be transmitted from animal to animal, from animal to human, and on rare occasions, from human to human.

Another way of transmitting the virus, even though highly uncommon, is for saliva or brain tissue from a rabid animal to get directly into the eyes, nose, mouth or open wound of a person or animal.

However, contrary to common belief, you can’t get rabies from the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal.

During her survey, Ms. Sommer noted another misconception about rabies transmission. She stated it is not true that an animal can be just a carrier of the rabies virus and transmit it to another animal or humans for weeks, months or even years.

According to the CDC, "No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog, cat or ferret held in quarantine for 10 days."

Before the rabies virus reaches the brain, the animal does not show any symptoms, according to the CDC. The animal does not appear ill during this time, called the incubation period, which may last for weeks or months. During this time period the animal CAN NOT transmit the virus to another animal or person. This is the reason why animals that have bitten a human are held in quarantine for 10 days.

As the CDC states, " Only late in the disease, after the virus has reached the brain and multiplied there to cause an encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) does the virus move from the brain to the salivary glands and saliva."

3. What animals are most likely to have rabies?
Answer:
All mammals can get rabies. It is most common in un-vaccinated household pets such as dogs, cats and ferrets as well as in livestock such as cattle, and wild animals like skunks, bats, raccoons, coyotes and foxes.

Small animals like mice, rats, squirrels, and even opossums, are almost never found to be infected with rabies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal was sick or behaving abnormally and rabies is a major problem in your vicinity.

4. How common is rabies in Erath County?
Answer:
Officially confirmed rabies cases from 2000 until today include according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control Unit:

Year	Rabies Cases	Confirmed In	Variant
2000	24	23 skunks, 1 cat	Skunk
2001	27	27 skunks	Skunk
2002	8	6 skunks, 1 goat, 1 horse	Skunk
2003	10	8 skunks, 2 dogs	Skunk
2004	4	2 skunks, 1 bat, 1 cattle	Skunk, Bat
2005	5	3 skunks, 1 cat, 1 cattle	Skunk
2006	2	1 skunk, 1 dog	Skunk
2007	4	3 skunks, 1 cat	Skunk
2008	6	3 skunks, 2 dogs, 1 raccoon	Skunk
2009	2	1 skunk, 1 cat	Skunk

All animals except 1 (the bat in 2004) contracted the virus from an infected skunk.

5. How can I tell if an animal has rabies?
Answer:
The symptoms are not easily recognized because other diseases display similar symptoms. Pets infected with the rabies virus act in unusual ways. Be alert for changes in behavior. A dog that is friendly may avoid people. Mean dogs may act friendly to strangers. Animals may become aggressive, make strange noises or erratic movements, and attack other animals or humans. They may have trouble walking, drinking, swallowing, or chewing. It may not be able to close its mouth, and may appear to be choking. If you see an animal acting like this, call the local animal control agency right away.

6. What should I do if I had contact with a possibly rabid animal?
Answer:
Prompt treatment is required to prevent a rabies infection. First, flush the bite or wound area with water for at least one full minute. Follow up by washing with soap (or detergent if soap is not immediately available) to remove saliva containing the virus. Then apply a disinfectant such as rubbing alcohol, bleach, or iodine tincture directly on the wound and under skin flaps to stop the rabies from being absorbed into the body tissue. Then get to your doctor or an emergency room as soon as possible.

7. How is rabies diagnosed in animals and humans?
Answer:
A direct fluorescent antibody test (dFA) is used to test the brain tissue of animals suspected to be rabid. However, the dFA test can only be performed after the animal has died. For humans, several tests are required to diagnose rabies. Samples of body tissues and fluids - saliva, spinal fluid, serum, and hair follicles - are tested for signs of the rabies virus. Positive results from one test is not proof of rabies, all tests are required for diagnosis.

8. Can baby animals have rabies?
Answer:
Babies born to a healthy rabies-free mother will be rabies free at birth. Babies born to a rabid mother will most likely have rabies, because it is exposed to the mother’s saliva. These babies will probably not survive long enough to go out into the world. Teach your children to never touch wildlife. Call the authorities or your local wildlife rehabilitator if you find a wild baby animal that seems to be orphaned and in need of human intervention.

9. How do I protect myself and my pets from rabies?
Answer:

• Have a veterinarian vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies. By law, you need to do this every year, or every three years, depending on the type of vaccine used.
• Keeping your pets vaccinated protects you and them.
• Keep pets away from wildlife and don’t let them wander loose through the neighborhood.
• Avoid contact with wild animals and with dogs and cats you do not know. Do not try to hand-feed wild animals and do not keep them as pets.
• Do not touch sick or injured animals. Call and report them to the authorities.

10. How do I prevent the spread of rabies?
Answer:

Be a responsible pet owner and have all your pets vaccinated once a year.

• Keep your pets confined and supervised.
• Spay or neuter your pets to prevent the spread of unwanted and unvaccinated animals straying through your neighborhood.
• Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed, or attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter. Do not leave pet food outside!
• Do not rescue wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to raise orphaned wildlife. Call animal control or your local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.

Growing up Raccoon

The 3 Abilenians are 5 weeks old now and are starting to recognize what's going on around them. Abi is the biggest and always the first. You'll see her sniffing out the lens. Lena is the lazy one, likes to sleep on her back and not move, but wait until she hears that bottle shaking! Ian is the smallest and only boy we have. He's a bit skittish but can purr up a storm if he feels safe.



Oh it's so hot in Texas! So we let Pumkin, Rocky and Sandra play with some ice cubes in the pool:

Raccoons staying cool in the pool at 106 F

Pumkin, Rocky and Sandra had no problems with the heat at all! I was so worried when the temps climbed to 106 F. I carried out buckets and buckets of water to refresh their water every hour until I figured it's time to put out a bigger container to hold more water.

Here goes:

Coco Banana and her 6 puppies

Coco's puppies are growing like weeds! They are 4 weeks old now. Are they now full blooded Chihuahuas or not? It looks like we found homes for all of them, including Coco. Of course she has to wean her pups first.

New raccoon hideout

I had some left over plywood and built a little platform for the girls to hide out on. They are spending most of their time up there now.

Pumkin and Sandra are refusing the bottle for 3 days now and eat only solid foods. Rocky has started to nibble on kitten chow.

Know your Neighborhood Wildlife - The Real Facts about Rabies

Know your Neighborhood Wildlife - The Real Facts about Rabies
by TOM PIPERSON & BIRGIT SOMMER
June 17, 2009

---

Getting the facts about rabies is not easy. Myths and misconceptions are as strong today as they were 4,000 years ago when rabies was first recognized. When the average person today thinks about rabies, they typically imagine dogs gone wild, foaming at the mouth, and painful shots. Ignorance about rabies can be hazardous to your personal health and well being, as well as the safety of family members, beloved pets and livestock. Understanding the facts about rabies, as provided in this article, can help prevent the spread of the disease, or even save a life.

Even though we enjoy the benefits of 21st Century medicine, rabies is still dangerous and even deadly to its victims, both animal and human. Once the rabies virus travels through the nervous system and is established in the brain, a painful and prolonged period of suffering leading to death is the prognosis for 100 percent of victims who do not receive treatment.

Fact – You cannot contract rabies from an animal held in quarantine for 10 days.

If an animal who seems ill or acts strange happens to bite you, it is possible you could be infected with the rabies virus. The virus is typically spread through the saliva of an infected carrier in the late stages of the disease after it has reached the brain. From thousands of years of medical observation of rabies victims, it is known that 3-5 days after reaching the brain, the animal will show unmistakable symptoms of rabies. A few extra days of quarantine are added as a precaution.

Fact – Until the rabies virus reaches the brain, a bite from an infected animal does not transmit the disease to its victim.

The period between the time a victim is bitten by a rabid animal and the time it can spread the infection to others is called the incubation period. It can take a few weeks up to several months for the virus to transfer from muscle tissue, to a peripheral nerve, the central nervous system, the brain, and from there into the saliva. This incubation time can depend on age (shorter in children), the location of the bite (the farther away from the head, the better), and the severity of the bite.

Fact – A person cannot contract rabies from the blood, feces or urine of an infected animal, or from handling a carcass that is dried or mummified.

Only saliva or nerve tissue (brain, spinal cord) from a rabid animal can transmit the virus to another victim.

It is possible to contract rabies through an open wound or mucous membrane. One possible scenario would be by contact with a water dish contaminated with saliva from a rabid dog. Or by breathing the air in a cave where rabies-infected bats are present. Human transplants who died of rabies infection have proven that nerve tissue transmits the virus, as well.

Fact – Bats can bite a victim without leaving a visible trace and present a unique danger for rabies infection.

Bats also carry the rabies virus. People who are awake will feel a pinch when bitten by a bat. But, when asleep, the bat’s needle-like teeth make practically no wound and may not even be felt. Because a few cases have proven rabies as the cause of death in individuals found asleep in a room with a bat, state governments have taken special steps to educate their residents.

In Iowa, for example, the public health department presents a detailed decision tree for the public to use in diagnosing suspected cases of bat-infected rabies, and recommends administering the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in cases where a person who has fallen asleep in the same room as a bat cannot say with certainty “I know I wasn’t bitten.”

In Colorado, based on the epidemiology of rabies, the primary rabies exposure risk for domestic pets is from bats. The Colorado Public Health Department recommends prompt treatment of pets for any direct exposure to bats, such as if direct physical contact was observed, the presence of puncture wounds on the bat or pet, or the presence of saliva or injuries on the bat.

Fact – Rabies is rare in opossums, rodents, and squirrels.

Small rodents (mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chipmunks, squirrels) are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal was sick or behaving abnormally and rabies is a major problem in your vicinity.

Opossums have naturally evolved their metabolism to resist many common infections, as well as having a robust immune system virtually impervious to the venom of rattlesnakes, vipers such as cottonmouth snakes, and spiders. Their extremely low body temperature of 94 to 97 degrees F is an inhospitable environment for survival of the rabies virus and other common wildlife diseases. There have been only 5 confirmed cases of a rabies infected opossum in Texas since 1962.

Fact – Human-to-human transmission of rabies is possible, but very rare.

There have been 8 confirmed cases of death due to human-to-human rabies transmission as the result of a corneal transplant operation.

Fact – The signs of rabies in an infected animal are not easily recognized.

Foaming at the mouth can be a symptom of many conditions more common than rabies, such as roundworms, ticks, poisoning, liver failure, allergies, distemper, and dehydration. It is important to remember it is the total package of symptoms that add up to a possible diagnosis of rabies. Be alert for changes in behavior.

A dog that is normally friendly may avoid people. Dogs that are not normally sociable may act friendly to strangers. Animals may become aggressive, make strange noises or erratic movements, and attack other animals or humans. They may have trouble drinking, swallowing, or chewing. A direct fluorescent antibody test (dFA) is used to test the brain tissue of animals suspected to be rabid. However, the dFA test can only be performed after the animal has died.

Fact – Thoroughly cleaning and treating the bite or wound area significantly reduces the chance of infection.

Immediate treatment is required in order to prevent possible rabies infection. First, flush the area with water for at least one full minute. Follow up by washing with soap (or detergent if soap is not immediately available) to remove saliva containing the virus. Then apply a disinfectant such as alcohol, bleach, iodine tincture directly on the wound and under skin flaps to stop the rabies from being absorbed into the body tissue. Get to your doctor or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Fact – The symptoms of rabies in humans are numerous and increases in severity as the disease progresses.

Some of the symptoms identified in rabies victims include twitching or tingling around the area of the animal bite, fever, sore throat, difficulty in speaking, confusion, aggressiveness, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches and spasms, paralysis, seizures, hydrophobia (fear of drinking or swallowing water, painful spasms when trying to drink), diplopia (double vision), breathing difficulties.

Fact – Treatment for rabies in humans who have been bitten by a rabid animal is 100% effective if given within 24 to 48 hours after the bite occurred.

Post-exposure rabies anti-serum costs about $1,200. Patients in the US receive one dose of human rabies immunoglobulin, or HRIG, and five doses of rabies vaccine administered over a 28 day period, at day 0, day 3, day 7, day 14 and day 28. One half the dose of the HRIG is injected in the region of the bite, if possible, with the remainder injected into muscle tissue away from the bite. Previously, the immunoglobulin was injected through the abdominal wall with a large needle which was extremely painful.

Fact – Vaccination of animals and humans can greatly reduce the spread of rabies.

Vaccination of wild animal reservoirs through food baited with rabies vaccine has controlled the spread the disease in Europe. At one point the virus was almost completely eradicated in the regions treated before rabies started to reappear from wild and imported animals. Wild animals such as the red fox account for 4 times the number of rabies cases as domestic animals in France.

Domestic animal vaccination programs are the law in many municipalities across America. Typically, a dog or cat that is not current with rabies vaccinations and has a wound of unknown origin must be quarantined at a veterinary hospital at the owner’s expense or at home under the supervision of the department of agriculture or public health. Some pet owners cannot afford the cost of quarantining and are required, by law, to euthanize their pet. States such as Pennsylvania have set up vaccination clinics costing $10 to encourage residents to obey the law requiring all domestic dogs and cats three months of age or older to be inoculated against rabies.

Fact – New treatments and vaccines hold promise for eventually and permanently ending rabies everywhere.

In over 4000 years, when the rabies virus was first recognized, slow but steady progress was made in the fight against rabies. It wasn’t until the late 19th Century when the original rabies vaccine, harvested from infected rabbits, was formulated by Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux, back in 1885. The modern vaccine, formulated in the late 1960s, uses purified and cultured cells grown and harvested in sterile labs. Biological research and advances in technology continue to bring the world closer to eliminating rabies completely and forever.

Today, the vast majority of human deaths caused by rabies occur in Asia and India. The industrialized world, including countries such as New Zealand and Australia, much of Western Europe, and the United States, have much lower rates of death from rabies.

Human vaccination is essential for animal care professionals, lab technicians and anyone who may come in contact with the rabies virus in the course of their work or hobby. The vaccination consists of a series of shots given in the arm or shoulder and must be renewed on a regular basis. Since the potential for exposure is high among certain individuals, vaccines are effective in preventing rabies infections. Overseas travel to locations known for high incidence of infection is another circumstance where administration of the human rabies vaccination series is highly recommended.

Summary

Provide your pets and livestock with rabies vaccine as advised by your family veterinarian. Keep rabies pet vaccines current.

Keep pets away from wildlife and don’t let them wander loose through the neighborhood.
Contact the proper authorities if you see an animal acting strangely. Never attempt to catch or touch the animal unless you are trained.

If your pet is bitten by an animal, call the animal authorities and take your pet to the vet.

If a person is bitten by an animal (whether it is from a wild skunk caught foraging in the trash or a nip on the hand from a neighbor’s pet), clean the wound thoroughly and go to your doctor or medical clinic for treatment. Contact the authorities who will try to capture the animal for testing or quarantine.

Keep contact information handy for notifying the proper authorities about a possible rabid animal in the neighborhood.

Information and research provided by Birgit Sommer, licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the State of Texas and Director of the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue.

Sources:

• http://www.cdc.gov/RABIES/qanda/general.html
• http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/rabies/
• http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/vaccfact.htm

Rocky, Sandra, Pumkin, orphaned raccoons are at it again

Everybody is doing great here despite of the heat!

Rocky climbed my leg for the first time, and I had the camera on me! Sandra starts to eat solid foods and is quite feisty and Pumkin is her usual sweet and cuddly self.



Here is Rocky, the princess of the tree lol:



And Sandra climbing my leg for more sips from the bottle even though she prefers Fruit Loops these days. But too much sugar isn't good either:



Last but not least, Coco's pups had their first solid food today.

I re-named the Coca, the kitten, into Puppy by the way! Just for the confusion effect :-):

Sandra, Rocky and Pumkin, Raccoons after the Storm

We had quite some storms last night, so I brought all animals, including the 3 girls of course, inside. After the storm had passed and the air is fresh and the ground still wet, I took the girls back outside. Boy did they enjoy the cooler temperatures!





And the starlings won't leave the nest!



Rocky and Abi:



Abi


Rocky and Abi asleep:


Rocky likes her ball:

Coco Banana adopts a Kitten

A couple of days ago I received a little kitten with the eyes just opening. It was weak and not in the best shape. Coco Banana's puppies had also just opened their eyes, so I felt I had nothing to lose by offering the kitten to Coco, see what she's going to. Accept or reject it. She accepted without hesitation!

New Raccoon Enclosure

We got around this weekend and worked all day yesterday, sweating gallons (really! lol) to get the floor of this enclosure done. We put wire mesh underneath the dirt, so the raccoons can't dig out and nothing can dig in.

We then furnished the enclosure and this morning, I brought the 3 girls, Pumkin, Rocky and Sandy in.

This is the enclosure:





Here are the girls:







The 3 Stooges aka 3 Starlings won't leave, insist of harrassing my neighors and myself for food:



and Coco's puppies opened their eyes today:



And last but not least, the 3 Abelenians are opened their eyes as well. Pictures will follow soon!

3 Raccoon Girls Outside

Pumkin, Sandy and Rocky are outside together for the first time. I keep a very close eye on them and right now they are sleeping all in different spots:

Rocky, Sandy, Pumkin, Abi, Lena, Ian, the orphaned raccoons

So, with 6 raccoons from 4 different litters and different ages, cottontails, various birds, and a foster dog with 6 puppies, the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is officially full.

But of course I want to share the fun with ya'll, so here goes!

Here are the movies!!!

Pumkin being a goofball:



Sandy and Rocky, first time together:



And Rocky and Pumpkin getting to know each other too:




Rocky (bottom) and Sandy (top), first touch:



Precious little Rocky Girl:

Doves, Starlings, Raccoon Orphans

Abi and Lena, the coonie sisters all snuggled up sleeping together:



Their brother Ian was hiding under a stuffed teddy and didn't want his picture taken.

In addition we have some birds: doves and starlings:



and a little Killdeer: