CDC Works to Boost Rabies Awareness

Most people don't remember the days before leash laws and mandatory pet vaccinations, but in the 50 years since dogs could legally roam the streets, public health has improved -- and keeps getting better as World Rabies Day approaches on Sept. 28.

Donna Barrett of Druid Hills, who says she loves her rescue mutts Lucy and Mazy and sister rescue cats Thelma and Louise like one of her kids, says she goes to .

"I have talked to my kids about wild animals [and rabies], but copperheads are more of a problem on our street. My neighbor's dog was recently bitten by one, and it was an ordeal," she said.

It's a big misconception that rabid animals are spotted easily because they drool and foam at the mouth. It’s not like that -- and it's not always a dog, Cujo. Cats are more likely to have rabies than dogs.

Foaming at the mouth may never occur or occur only at the very last stages of the disease. Any non-domesticated or stray animal that exhibits abnormal behavior (stagger, appear restless, be aggressive, have difficulty walking, seem overly friendly, or appear to be choking) should be suspected of having rabies, avoided and perhaps even alerted to the authorities.

Every dog, cat and ferret in Georgia must be vaccinated by the local county against the rabies virus and issued a license. While taking pets to the veterinarian is most owners' choice of preventive health treatment, other low-cost options are often offered in the community, such as through special low- or no-cost vaccination clinics through DeKalb or Fulton County animal services or The Humane Society. In addition, forms of the vaccine are available which are longer lasting, about two to three years.

Barrett says she finds ways to economize on the preventive treatments.

"The three-year shot is great. I also keep up with heartworm and flea medications. I order those online," she said.

Global Alliance for Rabies Control Executive Director Deborah Briggs, said her organization, based in Kansas and Britain, is coordinating the global effort to "let the world know that rabies can be readily prevented through education, pet vaccination and increased human awareness as to proper wound management and administration of rabies vaccination after an exposure has occurred. We cannot let our guard down with rabies. It is ever-present in wildlife which can expose our pets and possibly our family members."

The organization focuses on dogs for rabies prevention, but many more animals and even some people should be vaccinated.

Rabies vaccinations should include a variety of animals that have regular contact with humans – even horses. In addition, veterinarians and animal handlers, as well as people who work in rabies endemic areas and certain laboratory workers, whose activities bring them into frequent contact with rabies virus or potentially rabid bats, raccoons, skunks, cats, dogs, or other species at risk for having rabies are advised by health authorities to consider preventive vaccination.

Bats are often associated with rabies, as are raccoons. Bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily seen.

Although many people know if they have been bitten by a bat, information published by the says, in certain circumstances, a person might either be aware or unable to relate that they have been bitten. Such circumstances include when a person awakes to find a bat in the room, if a bat enters a room where there is an unattended child or comes close to a person who is intoxicated or has disabilities. In these circumstances, professional response is needed.

According to CDC epidemiologist Jesse D. Blanton, who works in the area of poxvirus and rabies, “the CDC encourages responsible pet ownership as a primary method of rabies prevention and control. This consists of maintaining current rabies vaccination of your pets and keeping them under your supervision so they do not have contact with wildlife. These activities are important for preventing your pets from being exposed to rabies, but also act as a front line defense in preventing human rabies exposures.”

Rabies is:

• A viral disease of mammals that animals and people can get through certain exposures to the saliva or nervous tissue from a rabid animal, usually wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes to infect animals such as domestic cats, dogs, and livestock. Rabies is rare in small rodents such as squirrels, rabbits, beavers, chipmunks, rats and mice, muskrats, hamsters, gerbils, porcupines and guinea pigs.
• Nearly always fatal without proper post-exposure prophylaxis [treatment] (PEP). It spreads from the site of the bite up through the nerves until it reaches the brain, causing encephalopathy and ultimately death.
• Zoonotic, which means it can spread from animals to people.
• Preventable!  In most cases, preventing rabies is as simple as ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, avoiding contact with wild animals, and educating those at risk.

Tips to Prevent Rabies Exposure

• Reduce the possibility of pets being exposed to rabies by not letting them roam free.
• Spay or neuter your pet to reduce any tendency they might have to roam or fight and thus reduce the chance that they will be exposed to rabies.
• Reduce the risk of exposure to rabies from wildlife
• Don’t feed or water your pets outside. Even empty bowls will attract wild and stray animals.
• Keep garbage securely covered. Open garbage will attract wild or stray animals.
• Do not keep wild animals as pets.
• Enjoy all wild animals from a distance and teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals – even if they appear friendly.
• Report a wild animal acting strangely. Contact animal control officials.
• Bat-proof your home in the fall and winter. 

Information can also be obtained from local health departments and animal rabies control officers. Information for this column was compiled from Fulton County Animal Services, the World Rabies Day website, CDC Rabies, World Health Organization, Georgia Poison Center and Georgia Rabies Control Manual.