Understanding Rabies: Risks and Prevention for Pets and Humans
Doctor explains which animals carry rabies and how to protect your pets. Discover global and U.S.-specific data on rabies risks from dogs, bats, raccoons, and more, plus essential prevention tips.
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Topic Breakdown
In this post, we're diving into the topic of rabies and exploring which animals carry this deadly virus. We'll be looking at global evidence as well as U.S.-specific data to understand the risks posed by various animals, including dogs, bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and more. Additionally, we'll discuss the symptoms of rabies in animals and how to prevent your pets from contracting this fatal disease.
Rabies is a viral neuro-invasive disease that causes inflammation in the brain and is almost always fatal. On a global scale, there are around 60,000 deaths from rabies each year, with 95% of these occurring in Asia and Africa. However, due to under-reporting, the actual number of deaths is likely much higher.
Rabies primarily affects mammals, which are warm-blooded animals with fur. Technically, any mammal can get rabies, including humans. Birds, snakes, and fish, on the other hand, cannot contract or transmit the virus.
Let's start by discussing dogs. Globally, 99% of deaths caused by rabies come from contact with rabid dogs. The main countries affected are in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Tragically, almost half of rabies cases in these regions occur in children under 15. Vaccinating dogs is crucial and is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in humans because it stops the transmission at its source. Education on dog behavior and bite prevention is also vital.
In the USA, mandatory dog vaccination programs have halted the natural spread of rabies among domestic dogs, which are no longer considered a rabies reservoir. However, around 60 to 70 dogs in the U.S. are reported as rabid each year. These cases are minuscule compared to the nearly 75 million dogs in the USA, and nearly all of the rabid dogs were unvaccinated and contracted the virus from wildlife such as bats, raccoons, and skunks.
Moving on to bats, these creatures can carry rabies-like viruses. Globally, all countries are considered high-risk for bat exposures except the UK and Ireland, which are low-risk. In the United States, bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in humans, although the numbers are low. For instance, in 2021, only five people died from bat-contracted rabies in America. Nonetheless, the CDC advises avoiding contact with bats and never keeping them as pets. Infected bats may not show signs of rabies, but behavioral changes like increased aggression, disorientation, and difficulty flying could be indicators.
Next, let's talk about terrestrial carnivores like raccoons, skunks, and foxes. These animals are most often infected with rabies in the United States. Raccoons are common carriers on the East Coast, skunks in the middle of America, and foxes in Arizona. Any bite from these animals should be considered a potential rabies exposure, and post-exposure prophylaxis should be initiated as soon as possible unless the animal has been tested and found not to be rabid.
Cats are another concern. In the USA, unvaccinated cats that roam outdoors are at the highest risk for contracting rabies from other rabid animals like skunks, raccoons, and foxes. In 2018, 241 cats were infected with rabies in the USA. The virus is often transmitted through bites, saliva, or mucous membranes and can incubate from one day to over a year before symptoms appear. Symptoms include unusual aggression, restlessness, lethargy, disorientation, paralysis, and seizures. It's crucial to vaccinate your cats to prevent rabies infection.
Monkeys, being mammals, can also carry rabies. There have been reports from India of monkeys contracting rabies. Although it's more common in dogs and bats, travelers should be cautious when bitten by monkeys in rabies-endemic countries and seek full rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.
Livestock like cattle and horses can also get rabies, but this is rare and usually occurs when the animals are not vaccinated or up-to-date on their rabies vaccines. The virus is typically contracted after contact with rabid wildlife.
In summary, the biggest global risk for contracting rabies comes from dogs, while in the USA, bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes pose significant risks. These animals can infect domestic pets and livestock, especially if they are not vaccinated. If you have any concerns or uncertainties following contact with an animal, especially if it has bitten you or exposed an open wound, consult your health provider.
To prevent rabies in animals, ensure your pets receive regular rabies vaccines. Keep pets away from wild animals by not letting them out unsupervised, especially at night. If you notice stray animals in your neighborhood, call Animal Control instead of approaching them yourself. Some states in the USA are also vaccinating wild animals like raccoons by distributing vaccine-laced food in hard-to-reach areas.
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