BHVH Information on Rabies

~RABIES~

Tennessee has mandatory Rabies Vaccination laws!

Brainerd Hills Veterinary Hospital strongly encourages all pet

owners to vaccinate your pet with a yearly Rabies Vaccine.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Domestic animals account for less than 10% of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often reported rabid. Rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy and ultimately death. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache, and general malaise. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms. Public health importance of rabies Over the last 100 years, rabies in the United States has changed dramatically. More than 90% of all animal cases reported annually to CDC now occur in wildlife; before 1960 the majority were in domestic animals. The principal rabies hosts today are wild carnivores and bats.. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the United States has declined from more than 100 annually at the turn of the century to one or two per year in the1990's. Modern day prophylaxis has proven nearly 100% successful. In the United States, human fatalities associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, usually because they were unaware of their exposure.

The above information was compiled from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

~Tennessee Information on Rabies~

Take the Bite Out of Rabies: Have Your Pets Vaccinated

Nashville, March 22, 2000

There were 95 cases of rabies in Tennessee in 1999, compared to 142 cases in 1998.

Skunks remained the most commonly infected animal, accounting for 79 cases. The number of rabid bats doubled from five in 1998 to ten in 1999. There were also five dogs and one fox. The highest occurrence of rabies was seen in Middle Tennessee, with cases of rabies in 16 counties, including 34 in Rutherford County. Nine East Tennessee counties and three in West Tennessee reported rabies. Rabies is a deadly virus that is transmitted by bites or scratches from an infected animal. Rabies can be prevented if treated promptly before symptoms develop. Left untreated, rabies is nearly always fatal.

In Tennessee and elsewhere in the United States, the number of rabies cases in domestic animals has declined dramatically due to mandatory vaccination laws for dogs and cats.

The higher the incidence of rabies in wildlife, the greater the risk to domestic animals who act as a buffer zone between wildlife and humans. Prevention is your best defense against rabies. Here are some precautions you should take to protect yourself and your pets: Have your pets (dogs and cats) vaccinated against rabies and make sure that their shots are kept up-to-date. During March and April, vaccination clinics are being held across the state. Although seeing your veterinarian for other important vaccinations and yearly exams are always recommended. Keep pets confined to a controlled area to limit their exposure to wild animals. Avoid contact with any wild animal, and never attempt to feed or touch them. Do not feed pets outdoors. Food left outdoors can attract wild animals. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least five minutes, and seek medical attention immediately.

The above information was compiled by the Tennessee Department of Health (News Release)

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