Rabies is a viral infection usually caught from the bite of a wild animal in the U. S. There are currently only one or two cases per year reported in this country, though rabies is still an important health problem in many underdeveloped countries. Almost all cases in the U. S. can be prevented.

The rabies virus causes rabies. The virus is usually passed by the bite of an infected wild animal, such as a raccoon, bat or skunk. Cases due to a dog or cat bite are extremely rare due to vaccination of domestic animals in this country. In less developed countries, dog and cat bites are still a common cause of rabies.

Once the rabies virus is introduced into a person's body, it makes its way toward the brain by traveling through nerves. This may take days or even months, but the virus almost always eventually finds its way. Early symptoms of rabies are non-specific, such as headache, fever and other flu-like symptoms. As the disease progresses, insomnia, confusion, anxiety, hallucinations and increased saliva formation may occur. A classic and unusual symptom of rabies is a fear of water, mostly due to difficult and painful swallowing. Once these progressive symptoms begin, death usually occurs within several days, as no cure is available at this stage. Only a very few known cases of rabies have resulted in a person surviving.

Thanks to the development of a vaccine and special protein (antibody) preparations, those who may have been exposed to rabies can receive treatment to prevent the disease before symptoms develop. In a sense, rabies is almost completely preventable if a person realizes that he or she may have been exposed and receives proper medical care.

The following persons are advised to seek medical advice concerning the possible use of a rabies vaccine:

It should be mentioned that any person who has been bitten by any animal should seek medical attention if the bite has broken the skin. This is to prevent infection and make sure the wound is properly taken care of, which may include special dressings or stitches. The wound should be immediately washed with soap and water before seeking medical care, if possible.

If there is any possible question about a possible wild animal exposure, a health care provider should be contacted immediately. In many cases, no action will need to be taken, but it is better to be safe and ask an expert. The vaccine and antibody administration can be life saving in the proper setting. The development of these products has made human rabies extremely rare in this country. The rabies vaccine is not usually recommended for those traveling to areas where rabies is a problem. However, people should be aware that rabies is still a more common problem in other countries.

If an unprovoked animal bite occurs and the animal can be captured, the animal is often observed for several days to see if it develops rabies. If the animal does not develop signs of rabies, it is usually not infected and the person can avoid the need for the multiple shots required to prevent rabies.

People are advised to never approach or try to interact with wild animals and to teach their children this point as well. Those with pets should make sure their pet receives the rabies vaccine to help rabies remain a rare event in this country. Those traveling to certain foreign countries, especially developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, are advised to avoid stray dogs and have a emergency local contact who can be called in case a bite occurs.

Rabies is a devastating, fatal disease that is generally due to wild animal bites in this country. The disease is very rare here thanks to widespread animal vaccination and the availability of a vaccine and antibody treatment for exposed people. Those who may have been exposed to rabies or who have been bitten by an animal are advised to seek prompt medical attention.

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