September 28 Is World Rabies Day

INDIANAPOLIS, IN  - It is estimated 55,000 people die worldwide from rabies each year.  Vaccination of domestic animals has greatly reduced the risk of rabies in the United States, but the Indiana State Department of Health reports it is still a serious concern.  In 2006, Indiana had the first human case of rabies in almost 50 years.  That individual was bitten by a rabid bat and later died.

September 28 is World Rabies Day.  The day has been set aside to promote rabies prevention.  Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system of humans and other mammals.  It is transmitted through a bite, or - very rarely - saliva entering a person's mouth, nose, eyes, or open wound.   

"Rabies is rare but nearly always fatal," said James Howell, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist.  "It is also 100 percent preventable.  Preventing rabies can be as simple as ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, avoiding contact with wild animals, and educating those at risk."

State health officials say canine strain rabies has been eliminated from Indiana through vaccination and leash laws.  However risk of rabies transmission to pets from wildlife is always a possibility. The last report of a rabid dog was in 1989, and the last rabid cat was in 1984. 

"Pet owners can best contribute to rabies prevention by having their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies," said Dr. Howell.  "Since rabies in Indiana is primarily found in bats, I also urge people to take precautions to avoid bat bites.  The first step is to bat-proof your house. Second, don't handle bats."

Other precautions include:

• If you or other family members are awakened by a bat or a bat is seen in the room of a child or disabled person, try to capture the bat in a sealable container. If caught, do not release the bat. Submit it to your local health department for rabies testing.
• To capture a bat, you will need leather work gloves, a small box or coffee can, a piece of cardboard, and tape. When the bat lands, place the box or can over it, and slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container and punch small holes in the cardboard to allow the bat to breathe. Contact your local health department to submit the animal to the state rabies laboratory for testing.
• If you are bitten, or come in close contact with a bat, immediately discuss it with your physician to determine whether or not you should receive treatment.
• If you believe your pet has been bitten, contact a veterinarian.
• Contact a pest control specialist, for assistance in bat-proofing your home. Bats can enter through a hole as small as one-quarter inch.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory.  But any bat that is active in the day, is not able to fly, or is found in a place where bats are usually not seen, is very easy to approach, and far more likely to have rabies.  As a result, bats should never be handled.  Less than one percent of bats in the wild are rabid, but bites by bats are considered high risk.

"If anyone is bitten by a bat or other suspected rabid animal, they should seek medical attention immediately," said Dr. Howell.

Source: Indiana State Department of Health