Local public health officials were informed Friday that a Willow Creek resident has tested positive for rabies and was sent to a Sacramento-area hospital.

According to a Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported the infection. Rabies is caused by a virus that is transmitted through the saliva and neural tissue of infected animals, and state and local officials are contacting people who may have been exposed and encouraging people to seek treatment. Further information on the patient was unavailable.

Preventative vaccines are available and should be administered to people as soon as possible after they are potentially exposed, according to the department.

”As in many locations, rabies is endemic in Humboldt County wildlife,” said Dr. Ann Lindsay, Humboldt County Health Officer, in a statement. “the No. 1 thing residents can do to protect themselves and their families is to vaccinate their domestic animals. secondly, residents should notify law enforcement of any animals exhibiting unusual behaviors.”

Vaccination clinics are available periodically for dogs and cats for $6 per shot. Redwood Animal Hospital is hosting one today from 10 to 11 a.m. On may 14, Fortuna Veterinary Clinic and McKinleyville Animal Care Center will host vaccination clinics. A schedule of clinics is available at co.humboldt.ca.us/hhs/phb/environmentalhealth/pressreleases.

Human rabies is rare in the United States, with only a handful of cases reported every year, according to the health department press release. No cases have ever been documented of human-to-human transmission of the disease.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, symptoms include drooling, convulsions, loss of muscle function, numbness and restlessness. Immunizations given to a patient soon after being exposed have proven to completely prevent the infection from developing. However, the NCBI reports that once symptoms appear, the person infected rarely survives and death from respiratory failure usually occurs within a week after symptoms appear.

For information on rabies, vaccinations and testing, call 445-6215.

Sep 27, 2010 Romelda Ascutia

Animals in the Wild can be Carriers of Rabies – HarlequeenRabies is a viral disease transmitted through animal bites. know how to protect yourself from this infection that leads to a painful death if not treated.

Rabies is a deadly viral infection of the central nervous system that is spread through the bite of an animal carrying the rabies virus.

The World Health Organization estimates that 10 million people a year get treated for rabies exposure, and about 55,000 die from the disease each year (about one death every 10 minutes). Almost half of the victims are children aged below 15 years.

The disease is transferred to people by warm-blooded animals, including bats, monkeys, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, dogs, and cats. in countries where domestic animals are routinely vaccinated, bats and other wild animals are the main sources of infection. but worldwide, dogs are by far the biggest carriers and the cause of the overwhelming majority of rabies deaths, particularly in Asia and Africa.

How rabies is transmitted

While people contract rabies largely from animal bites, they can also get it on rare occasions through contact with the saliva or brain tissue of an infected animal, or through a scratch or a lick from a cat with rabies. Bats may also pass it on to humans through a small bite that leaves no visible wound.

The virus enters the body via a puncture, break or cut in the skin. It travels along the nerve pathways of the muscles and attacks the nervous system, where it multiplies then inflames the brain.

From the nervous system, the virus spreads to the different tissues including the salivary glands. The rabies virus is adept at avoiding detection by the immune system, so the body finds it hard to combat the threat.

When the virus reaches the spinal cord and brain, death is almost always imminent. however, it can take days or weeks for the virus to get to the brain; immediate medical treatment can halt the progression of rabies and help avert death.

Symptoms of rabies

Initial symptoms of rabies in people show similarities to those of many other infections, including fever, headache, itching or pain in the bite area, and general weakness or discomfort.

More specific symptoms appear later on as the disease spreads through the brain. Among these are insomnia, anxiety, confusion, agitation, slight or partial paralysis, delirium, salivation, difficulty swallowing, convulsions, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Eventually, the person goes comatose and dies, usually from blocked airways, seizures, or total paralysis.

How to avoid rabies infection

The most effective ways to protect yourself from rabies infection are to avoid exposure to rabid animals and to seek medical attention immediately after being bitten.

Do not touch or pick up wild animals even if they seem feeble or appear friendly. Rabies triggers a change in an animal’s behavior that makes it aggressive and likely to attack without provocation.

Be a responsible pet owner. Make sure your pets are healthy, well fed, and supervised at all times, especially when outdoors. they should be taken to the veterinarian once a year for their regular rabies shots.

If you are bitten by an animal suspected to have rabies, preventative treatment is the only way to stop the disease from developing. clean the wound thoroughly with soap and plenty of water for at least five minutes, then quickly seek medical treatment, which may include rabies vaccinations, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Vaccination can prompt the body’s immune system to respond to the attack before the symptoms of rabies appear. you may also have to get protected against tetanus.

Disclaimer: This article is meant only to provide information and is not intended to replace advice from licensed healthcare professionals.

“CDC Features,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessed September 28, 2010

“Rabies,” Directors of Health Promotion and Education, Accessed September 28, 2010

“Rabies,” Merck, Accessed September 28, 2010

“Rabies,” NetDoctor, Accessed September 28, 2010

• Animals in the Wild can be Carriers of Rabies – Harlequeen

• Do not go near Stray Dogs as they May Have Rabies – Tony Beeman

• Bats can Spread Rabies Through Discreet Bites – Longhorndave

It’s the time of the year to take your pet’s health very seriously as City of Brownwood Animal Control report an increase of wild animals in the area presenting symptoms of rabies.

Brownwood Animal Control Officer Nick Ferguson explained that February through March is the mating season for skunks and one of the reasons for the spread of the disease.

“The more they interact, the more chance they have to spread the disease,” stated Ferguson.  “It is more important to have animals vaccinated now so that the random skunk in your back yard doesn’t spread rabies to your dogs.”

Ferguson reported that they are seeing a lot of raccoons and skunks, not domestic animals currently, which have been presenting signs of the disease.  Area residents are urged to call animal control or law enforcement if they see any animal acting unusual.  in Brownwood, police will respond if the animal control officers are not available according to Ferguson.

It is easier and less painful to vaccinate domestic animals than it is to treat a human.  When human infection occurs, treatment is a series of multiple shots and is very expensive.  According to Jula Hill, LVN at the Brown County Health Department, this series for an average sized adult can cost between $2100 and $2500 (the cost varies due to dosage varying by weight of the patient).

“The last two cases we have treated were bites from stray cats,” stated Hill.  “The patients were trying to help stray cats.  One pulled a can off of the animals head and was bit.”

The biggest warning that Hill gave was to be careful around bats, do not handle sick bats.  Any exposure to bats must be treated.  Hill said it can even be fatal if a person does not receive the series of shots.

According to statistics offered on the Department of State Health Services website, 258 cases were reported and confirmed as animal rabies infections in Texas in 2010.

While these numbers can be eye-opening, DSHS health officials say there are things that you can do to keep from being exposed to the rabies virus.  The most important thing that people can do is to have their animals vaccinated against rabies and keep those vaccinations up to date. there is state law requiring that you have your dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian.

DSHS also offers this advice:

• Keep cats and ferrets indoors and keep dogs indoors or in a fenced yard.
• Spay or neuter pets to prevent unwanted animals that may not receive proper care.
• Teach children not to play with any animal that they do not know, even if the animal seems friendly.
• Avoid animals, both domestic and wild, that appear disoriented, fearless or aggressive. Nighttime animals such as bats, raccoons and skunks that are active in the daytime may be sick.
• Do not touch any wild animal that appears ill or dead. Call your local animal control or local health department for help.
• Don’t attract wild animals to your yard. Avoid leaving pet food outdoors, and keep garbage in closed containers.
• Stay away from wild animals, and never keep a wild animal as a pet.
• Prevent bats from entering the home where they might come in contact with people or pets. If you find a bat in a room with an unattended child, a sleeping person or anyone who cannot reliably say what happened, leave the room, close the door and call your local rabies control or local health department to capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. Do not touch the bat yourself.
• Have domestic ferrets, wolf-dog hybrids and livestock, especially those that are in frequent contact with humans, vaccinated against rabies.

Rabies is a viral illness that affects the central nervous system. once symptoms of rabies occur, it is almost always fatal. however, a series of post-exposure shots, if given in time, can prevent rabies from developing.

Humans and all warm-blooded animals can get rabies. You can be infected with the rabies virus through the bite of an infected animal. Though rare, you also can get rabies if the saliva from an infected animal gets directly into your nose, eyes, mouth or a fresh wound.

Rabies is a medical urgency not an emergency, but decisions must not be delayed. If you or someone in your family is bitten, DSHS recommends that you:

• Wash the wound immediately and thoroughly with soap and warm water. Apply an antiseptic if available.
• Seek prompt medical care if an animal bites you or you believe that you may have been exposed to rabies.

It is very important to report all animal bites to your local rabies control authority as soon as possible so the animal can be quarantined or tested if needed. a good description of the animal is very helpful if it has not already been captured.

Skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes and coyotes are the most high risk animals for rabies in Texas according to DSHS.  Dogs, cats, horses and cattle are the most frequently reported rabid domestic animals in Texas.

The symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs differ from those in people, and usually occur much later after the tick bite. Clinical illness in dogs usually occurs 2 to 5 months after a bite from an infected tick. Cats can develop Lyme disease, but it occurs rarely in them, even in endemic areas. other domestic animals such as horses have contracted Lyme disease, but it does not appear to be a significant problem. Dogs show several different forms of the disease, but by far, the most common symptoms are a fever of between 103 and 105°, lameness, swelling in the joints, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

Although not common, some dogs have developed severe progressive kidney disease as sequelae to Lyme disease. this severe kidney failure is difficult to treat and may result in death of the dog. it is recommended that a dog with a positive Lyme antibody test have additional blood tests and a urinalysis to assess kidney function. Some dogs may also develop heart problems or nervous system disease after being infected with B. burgdorferi.

Dogs do not develop the typical rash or the circular area of redness around the bite (erythema migrans) which is seen in people.

- Lameness in legs
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling in leg
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Lameness
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Joint disease
- Kidney disease

Do animals have to show the rabies symptoms to actually have the disease or do some have it without even showing any signs of it? I've always thought that most domestic animals have rabies without even showing it. is this true?