What is rabies?

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and is found in the saliva of infected animals. Rabies almost always results in fatal encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and its membranes.

Who gets rabies?

Rabies is primarily a disease of wild animals. Bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and other biting mammals provide the greatest risk. Dogs, cats, and farm animals can also get and transmit rabies. Squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, rats, and mice are rarely infected.

How is the disease spread?

Pets and people can get the disease through a bite or scratch of an infected animal or through contact with their saliva into an open cut on the skin or mucous membranes. Airborne transmission in close quarters has also been demonstrated.

What are the symptoms of rabies?

Animals can appear either aggressive and excitable or weak-limbed and lethargic. The disease in humans progresses from appetite loss, moderate fever, nausea, and headache to the more serious complications of paralysis, difficulty in swallowing, delirium, convulsions, and eventual death.

When do symptoms appear?

Depending on the severity and site of the wound in relation to the nervous system and brain, and the amount of virus received, it can take from 9 days to as long as 7 years for symptoms to appear. Usually, the symptoms of rabies appear in 3 to 8 weeks. Dogs will begin to show signs of rabies within 21 to 56 days, and cats within 14 to 21 days. The incubation period in other animals varies and is not as well established as dogs and cats.

How is rabies diagnosed?

Confirmation of rabies can occur only after death by analysis of brain tissue. Therefore, “exposure” is when people are bitten or licked by a potentially rabid animal. The decision for treatment must be made logically, depending on the kind of animal, its behavior, vaccination status, etc. Wild animals should be caught, euthanized, and tested for rabies as soon as possible. Domestic animals can be quarantined to see if they begin to show signs of rabies before human treatment begins.

What is the treatment?

When a person is bitten or licked by a suspected rabid animal, immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly with soapy water. A tetanus shot or booster and antibacterial treatment should be provided when indicated. Human treatment consists of 6 shots to the arm.

How can rabies be prevented?

Do not feed or handle any stray or wild animal. Use gloves when handling dead wild animals. Have your pet dog or cat vaccinated against rabies. Keep your pets from running loose and protect them from stray or wild animals. Report stray animals and all animal bite incidences to Broward County Animal Care and Regulation.

For further information, contact the Broward County Health Department at (954) 467-4806.