Text_Files/Rabies.txt

RABIES (cont.) 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
RABIES 
 
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central 
nervous system.  It can be transmitted to people 
through contact with the saliva or brain and spinal 
cord tissue of a rabid animal as described below.  
It is a fatal disease for humans but may be  
effectively prevented.  Rabies in certain animals, 
especially wildlife, is common throughout New 
Hampshire. 
 
What are the signs of rabies in animals? 
Animals may act friendly or become vicious.  
Animals that are usually active only at night may 
be found a ctive during the day.  Animal behavior 
may be unusually aggressive.  Animals infected 
may seem withdrawn, hide in corners or refuse 
food.  The most important thing to remember is 
that a rabid animal will usually be infectious to 
people or other animals for  a varying period of 
time before a change in their appearance or 
behavior. 
 
Who gets this disease? 
People can get rabies through two types of 
exposure:  bite exposure and non-bite exposure. 
• Bite exposure:
  Any penetration of the 
skin by the teeth of an inf ected animal.  All bites 
regardless of location, pose a potential risk for 
rabies. 
• Non-bite exposure:   Infectious saliva, 
brain or spinal cord tissue from a rabid animal 
comes into contact with the lining of a person’s 
eye, nose or mouth or with a cut, abrasion or other 
pre-existing break in the person’s skin. 
 
What about bats and rabies? 
Bats are responsible for the majority of 
domestically acquired human cases of rabies.  
People usually know when a bat has bitten or 
otherwise exposed them to rabies.  Howe ver, 
because bats have small teeth that may not leave 
obvious marks, there are certain situations when a 
person may be considered exposed to rabies even 
in the absence of an obvious bite, including: 
• If a person awakens to find a bat in their 
room 
•          A bat is seen in the room of an unattended 
child, or 
• A bat is seen in the room of a mentally 
impaired or intoxicated person. 
 
People cannot get rabies from having contact with 
bat guano (feces), blood or urine.  If an exposure 
is possible, and the bat is a vailable, the local 
animal control authority should be contacted to 
aid in capturing the animal for testing. 
 
What are the symptoms of rabies in 
humans? 
Symptoms of rabies in people include 
apprehension, anxiety , headaches, fever, 
tiredness, paralysis, mus cle spasm in the throat 
leading to fear of water, delirium /hallucinations, 
convulsions, and, in almost all cases, death.  
Symptoms are progressive and without medical 
intervention the usual duration is 2- 6 days; death 
is often due to respiratory or cardiac failure. 
 
What is the treatment? 
If a person is bitten or has a non- bite exposure, 
immediately wash the wound thoroughly with 
soap and water for several minutes.  (NOTE:  
flush an exposed eye, nose or mouth with water or 
saline).  This is extremely import ant as it may 
prevent the rabies virus from entering the body 
tissue and prevent infection.  Then, the person 
should be seen immediately by a physician or go 
to an emergency department for examination and 
any needed treatment.   
 
If indicated, a series of shots should be given.  
One of the shots (Human Rabies Immune 
Globulin) is injected around the site of the 


RABIES (cont.) 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
exposure to provide immediate protection while 
the rabies vaccine is given in the arm muscle.  A 
total of 5shots ( 4 shots of vaccine and one of 
Human Rabies Immune Globulin- may be more 
than one and is based on body weight ) are given 
over one month.  If an individual has had rabies 
vaccine in the past, this treatment will vary.  To 
work best, these shots should be given as soon as 
possible after the exp osure.  If the animal has 
been caught and will be tested for rabies or 
quarantined for 10 days (dogs, cats, and ferrets 
only), treatment can usually be delayed until 
results are available or quarantine is over.  
Contact the local animal control authority to aid in 
capturing the animal for confinement and 
observation or testing. 
 
Is there a cure? 
There is no cure for rabies once the infected 
person becomes ill with the disease.  Appropriate 
rabies immunizations given before the onset of 
illness are effective in preventing the disease.  
People whose work or hobbies bring them 
frequently into contact with potentially rabid 
animals should have a series of three rabies 
vaccine shots before they are exposed.  They will 
then require only two vaccine shots after 
exposure. 
 
How can the spread of this disease be 
prevented? 
1. Do not handle wild animals.  Teach 
children to avoid wildlife, strays and all 
other animal s they don’t know.  Call the  
New Hampshire Fish and Game 
Department at (603) 271- 3361 to report 
dead, sick or  injured animals.  Call the 
local animal control officer for domestic 
animal exposures. 
2. If bitten by a wild or domestic animal, 
seek medical attention immediately and 
notify the local animal control officer. 
3. All bites by wild animals or contact with 
their s aliva or brain or spinal cord tissue 
should be considered as possible exposure 
to rabies and must be evaluated medically. 
4. Keep trash containers tightly closed.  
Garbage attracts animals like skunks and 
raccoons. 
5. Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies 
and make sure their shots are kept up -to-
date.   
6. If another animal has injured a dog, cat or 
other pet, handle it only with thick rubber 
gloves and have it examined by a 
veterinarian right away.  Saliva from an 
attacking rabid animal remains infectious 
on t he attacked pet’s fur until it has 
thoroughly dried. 
 
Reportable? 
Yes.  Rabies in animals and humans is reportable 
by New Hampshire law to the Division of Public 
Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease 
Control at (603) 271-4496.