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5 People Died of Rabies in the U.S. in 2021, the Most in a Decade
Rabies is an infectious disease caused by a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord. Bites from infected animals, such as dogs, bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks, can cause Rabies. More animals, such as monkeys and mongooses, can also bite, leading to this health condition. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear unless caught in time and treated with intense antiviral medicine.
In the United States, around 1,000 people suffer from Rabies each year. Of those, about one hundred die from the disease. In 2011, only a few human deaths were due to Rabies in the U.S., but that number is likely much lower since many cases go unreported.
The Most Deaths in a Decade
Three deaths occurred over five weeks beginning in late September. One involved a kid who got in direct contact with bats. All three individuals showed symptoms three to seven weeks after coming into contact with bats. These deaths happened in Texas, Illinois, and Idaho. According to a C.D.C. report, they passed within two to three weeks following the onset of symptoms.
An additional person, who lives in Texas, died of Rabies in late October after handling a bat found on their property. The individual did not realize the bat had the virus until their symptoms appeared two weeks later. In total, four people died in the five weeks.
Most deaths take place in nations due to insufficient public health resources. Death from Rabies was not common in the U.S. Since the number of rabid bats reported to the National Rabies Surveillance System has been steady since 2007, the C.D.C. suggested that the rise in Rabies cases may be due to a lack of understanding of the risks.
Preventive Measures to stay safe from Rabies:
Don't manage wild animals, especially bats.
Teach your kids to avoid contact with all wild animals, including bats. Educate them about Rabies and the importance of seeking prompt medical attention if an animal bites, pokes, or scratches them.
If you find a bat in your room or any other area where you and your children spend time, contact local animal control immediately so they can safely transport the bat to be tested for Rabies. If possible, do not touch the bat and avoid direct contact with blood or body fluids (saliva).
If an up-to-date pet bites you on its Rabies shots, you do not need medical attention. If a stray dog or cat bites you, you should contact your local animal control agency to see if the animal has been vaccinated and can be tested for Rabies. If it has not been vaccinated and cannot be evaluated, you will likely need a series of shots that may include the Rabies vaccine.
All mammalian bites or scratches should receive immediate first-aid care. If you suspect Rabies, seek medical attention.
Keep your pets up-to-date on their Rabies shots. If you are still determining if your pet has been vaccinated, consult your veterinarian.
If you find a bat in your home, the C.D.C. recommends using a broom to direct the bat out an open window or door. Then, alert local animal control authorities so they can safely transport the bat for testing. If a cat or other stray animal bites you, call for medical attention and mention if you've come into contact with any other animal in or around your home or other areas where you spend time regularly. Contact the State health departments immediately if there are human deaths from Rabies in a particular area because this may indicate public health risks beyond those individuals exposed in particular incidents.
If you discover an animal has Rabies after having contact with it, try to remember anything else about the encounter. Pictures of the bat and its surroundings could help understand what contact occurred.
Other Facts
Rabies is most common in urban environments, where birds and bats are present. The C.D.C. explains that bats tend to live close enough to humans to have contact with them. In some cases, bats may enter the home through cracks in walls or open windows.
Human deaths from Rabies are rare in the United States. The C.D.C. says that only half of 1% of humans infected with Rabies ever develop symptoms. Symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, and confusion (often starting with at least two). These symptoms often develop 12 to 18 days after exposure to the rabid animal or its saliva. If left untreated, it progresses to paralysis (including paralysis on one side of the body), coma, seizures (often severe and causing sudden death), and respiratory arrest (which can cause death).
Top Rabies Symptoms Include
A person with Rabies is infectious or can transmit the virus until the end. The earliest symptoms of Rabies are fever and headache, which are often mistaken for other illnesses, especially in children. As the disease progresses, a person may experience insomnia, anxiety, confusion (especially trouble with simple tasks), excitation or hyperactivity (especially in children), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water).
Rabies can progress from these early symptoms to paralysis, delirium, and hallucinations as the brain and nervous system slowly deteriorate. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.
No known treatment can cure Rabies once symptoms appear. The disease is fatal once symptoms appear unless caught in time and treated with intense antiviral medicine.
Conclusion
Hence, try to keep your kids away from wild animals and teach them not to touch or handle strange animals. Consult your doctor if a wild animal bites you. Antiviral treatment may exist, depending on several conditions. Seek medical care immediately. Rabies is a severe disease caused by a virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. In the United States, bats are one of the most common carriers, but dogs and foxes can also transmit Rabies. Rabies usually kills infected animals before they can infect other animals or humans. At least one in five people who get this disease die.
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