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Arkansas Department of Health
Web Site for
Rabies Information

 


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Annual Rabies Summary

Animal Rabies Testing Results 2000-2004

Information - PDF
Positive Animal Rabies Results Map 2006


Frequently Asked Questions


What is Rabies?


Rabies is an infectious viral disease that invades the central nervous system of humans and other furbearing, warm-blooded animals. A wide variety of mammals can contract the disease, but it occurs most often in skunks, bats, cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and livestock.
 

How is Rabies transmitted?

Worldwide, more than 35,000 humans die of rabies each year. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of such cases result from bites inflicted by rabid dogs. In the United States, transmission from dogs is becoming a rarity due to successful dog vaccination programs. Although rabies is nearly always transmitted by a bite, transmission can result from contact between infected saliva and nervous tissues, open wounds, or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. Careless handling is the primary cause of rabies transmission from bats. Rabies virus has not been isolated from bat blood, urine or feces, and there is no evidence of air-borne transmission in buildings. No transmission from bats to dogs is known to have occurred, although rare cases of transmission to cats have been documented. Transmission from person to person is theoretically possible since the saliva of an infected person may contain virus, but this has never been documented.


What are the symptoms of Rabies?

Rabies causes fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms usually develop in three to eight weeks after exposure. Early symptoms in humans include pain, burning, and numbness at the site of infection. Victims complain of headaches, inability to sleep, irritability, muscle spasms of the throat and difficulty swallowing. Loss of ability to control one’s movements occurs, followed by delirium, coma, and death in about one to three weeks.

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Bats and Rabies

Bat rabies accounts for approximately one human death per year in the United States. There are 45 different types of bats in the United States; however, only 9 species have caused rabies in humans. Attempting to prevent human rabies by reducing bat populations is neither feasible nor desirable.


How do I protect my home against bat entry?

Bats should always be prevented from entering the home. If bats are found in a home, contact the Health Department or a wildlife conservation agency. Bats tend to be localized in chimneys, attics, and crevices throughout the upper extremity of the house. When protecting a home against bat entry, find and caulk any openings larger than a quarter-inch.

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How do I capture bats safely?

Most bats that enter living areas do so accidentally. They can be chased out through an open door or window or caught in a butterfly net, a leather-gloved hand, or a coffee can slowly placed over them while a piece of cardboard is slid between the bat and wall. All bats found in the home should be tested for rabies since they may have bitten a person during the night without detection.

What is the process for Rabies testing?

(1) If a dog, cat, or domestic ferret is infectious at the time of the bite, it will show signs of rabies and die within 4-7 days. These animals may be quarantined for ten (10) days as an alternate to euthanasia and testing. If they are then symptom-free, they did not have rabies.

(2) If an animal is to be tested, do not shoot it in the head or otherwise damage the brain. Confirm rabies diagnosis by submitting the animal's head to the Arkansas Department of Health for the rabies test. There is no charge for Rabies testing. Contact the Veterinary Public Health office at 501-661-2893 for information regarding testing or other rabies questions.

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How do I obtain Rabies vaccination?
(Post Exposure Immunization)
See your family doctor and have him consult with the Health Department on the necessity for treatment. If you have been exposed to a rabid or suspect rabid animal post-exposure treatment is effective with the following products. The physician can obtain the vaccines by calling the following numbers.

1.0 ml vial  Imovax (HDCV) from Aventis Pasteur at (800)-822-2463(They also have HRIG)
1.0 ml vial

Rabavert (Chick Embryo Cell Vaccine) Chiron Corp. distributed by Bio-Pharm Distributors at (866)-869-9678 (They also have HRIG)

Post-exposure Rabies treatment includes five (5) doses of Human Diploid Cell Vaccine in addition to administration of Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) at the rate of 2 ml for every 33 lbs of body weight. HRIG is administered around the bite if in a fleshy area; otherwise, inject the HRIG into the gluteal muscle. Administer the total dose of immune globulin on day 0. One dose of HDCV is administered on each of Days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28.

*10 ml of (HRIG) will treat a 165 lb person, and a 2 ml vial will treat a 33 lb person. Doctor’s fees for administering the vaccine should be no different from those charged for other vaccination procedures. (Individuals with financial difficulties may contact Aventis Pasteur at 1(800)-VACCINE or Chiron Corp at 1-(800)-775-7533. You may be eligible for their indigent vaccination program.) 

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Find out more about rabies
Copies of the Arkansas Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Rabies Control are available from your local health department. Additional information is available from:

Arkansas Department of Health Veterinary Public Health Office: 800-554-5738

Points to Remember:

1. If bitten by a dog or cat, identify the animal and quarantine it for 10 days.

2. There is no quarantine/observation period for wild animals.

3. If an animal is to be tested, sacrifice it and send the head to the Arkansas Department of Health. The local health units will ship the head for you or you may deliver it yourself to the Arkansas Department of Health.

4. Remember to chill the head so it doesn’t decompose.

5. Don’t be concerned about rodent bites. There has never been a positive rodent in Arkansas.

6. Your local veterinarian can remove the suspect animal’s head and ship it for you.

7. When handling bats and other rabies suspect animals, wear gloves and avoid direct contact with fluids from the animal.

8. The CDC has stated that the infectious materials from a rabid animal is saliva, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid.

9. Be sure to have dogs and cats vaccinated annually against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, as required by law Act 11 of 1968.

 

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Rabies/Animal Exposure Information

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease which may affect any mammal, including man.

 

Where is Rabies virus found?

In the saliva and nerve tissue of infected animals.  The virus is fragile and does not survive in the environment.  Drying kills the virus, and it is easily killed by disinfectants.

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How is Rabies spread?

It is almost always spread by the bite of an infected animal.  Rare cases have been spread by infected saliva entering through a break in the skin.  A few cases have been contracted in caves where large numbers of rabid bats have contaminated the air. Rare cases have been spread by infected saliva entering through a break in the skin.

 

Can Rabies be transmitted by a secondary object?  

Rabies has never been transmitted from a secondary object such as the ground where a rabid animal was lying.  Tools used in picking up the animal or a stick used to push an animal into a bag, for example, should NOT be considered dangerous once any saliva present has dried.

It would be sensible to use precautions such as wearing gloves when handling a suspect rabid animal’s body, or to take precautions to prevent saliva from contacting the eyes or mouth.

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When does the virus first occur in the saliva of a rabid animal? 

After the virus has infected the brain, the virus infects the salivary glands.  In domestic animals, this may occur before the symptoms appear.

 

Do all animals show the same symptoms? 

No. Animals may appear to be either “dumb” or “furious”, depending on how the infection affects their brain.

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What are some of the symptoms of “dumb” Rabies?

Drooping jaw; salivating; appearance of choking;  less active than usual;  seeking affection or avoiding people;  progressive paralysis and death within 5 days.

 

What are some of the symptoms of “furious” Rabies?

Highly excitable and restless;  changes in personality;  hiding in dark places;  refusing food;  trying to break out;  snapping at most moving objects;  eating sticks and stones.  

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What should I do if I am bitten by an animal?

A. Immediately wash the wound(s) well with soap and water, and apply an antiseptic.  See a physician about the need for further treatment.

B. Report the bite to local authorities and to the Health Department.  The local health department may be notified, or the Arkansas State Health Department (ADH) in Little Rock, at 501-661-2893 or 1-800-554-5738, ext. 2893.

 

What should I do about an animal that has bitten someone?

Wild animals should be humanely destroyed, without damaging the head, and the head shipped to the ADH lab for testing.  Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be quarantined for 10 days.  Depending on the circumstances of the bite and the nature of the animal involved, confinement may be required to be in a veterinary clinic, a public pound, or may be allowed to be done at home.  Costs of confinement are the owner’s responsibility.  If the animal is well 10 days after the bite occurred, it could not have transmitted Rabies, and may be released from quarantine.  If it shows signs of Rabies, it should be humanely destroyed and the head submitted for Rabies testing.

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How long is the quarantine period?

The quarantine period is 10 days for dogs, cats, and ferrets.  There is no quarantine period applicable to other animal species.

 

What should I do if my livestock appear rabid?

Livestock should be isolated in a strong pen.  A veterinarian should be consulted for a specific diagnosis.  

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Do all animals that are bitten by a rabid animal develop Rabies?

No.  rabies transmission depends on the severity of the bite and the amount of Rabies virus in the saliva.

 

Is there a cure for Rabies?

No.  Once symptoms appear, death follows in a few days.

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Where should animal heads be sent for Rabies testing?

Arkansas Department of Health
Division of Public Health Laboratories
4815 W. Markham
Little Rock  AR  72205

Special containers must be used for shipping Rabies specimens.  These containers are available at local health departments or from many veterinary clinics.  Specimens may be delivered personally to the State Health office, but must not be sent through the mail.  

Where can I find out more about Rabies?

Copies of the Arkansas Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Rabies Control are available from your local health department.  Additional information is available from:

Arkansas Department of Health Veterinary Public Health Office 800-554-5738

 

How often should I have my dog or cat vaccinated against Rabies?

All cats and all dogs must be vaccinated against Rabies every year according to the law.  Failure to comply is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.

Dogs and cats should be vaccinated against Rabies as soon as possible after they are three months old.

 

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How often should I have my pet raccoon or skunk vaccinated?

There are no approved Rabies vaccines for wild animals except ferrets.  Veterinarians may vaccinate wild animals but must state on the vaccination certificate that it is unknown whether or not the vaccine will be effective.

 

What animals may transmit Rabies to humans?

Any animal that is infected with Rabies may transmit it to humans.  In Arkansas, the most commonly infected animals are skunks and bats. 

Rabies in raccoons is rare in Arkansas, but does occur periodically, and a bite from these animals could require postexposure treatment.

Opossums and rodents almost never have Rabies, and a bite does not require postexposure Rabies treatment unless the brain tests positive for Rabies virus.  Questions about individual cases should be referred to the Veterinary Public Health Office for consultation.  

 

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What is the danger of capturing and keeping wild animals as pets?

Arkansas Game and Fish regulations prohibit taking some wild animals as pets.  Skunks and bats are prohibited as pets if taken in the wild.  Any animal taken from the wild and domesticated is dangerous, and the experience often ends in disaster for the animal or the adoptive family.

 

Can I give my dog or cat its Rabies vaccination? 

Although Rabies vaccine may be purchased in some feed stores or even drug stores legally, an individual administering the shots is actually practicing veterinary medicine without a license.  In case of a bite or for licensing purposes, this type of vaccination is not recognized. 

 

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What is the quarantine period that applies to wild animals?

There is no applicable quarantine period for animals other than dogs, cats, or ferrets.  There are no studies which determine the length of time that other animals may be infected before they show symptoms or have Rabies virus in their saliva.

 

What must I do if my dog or cat is bitten by a wild animal?

If you were able to kill or capture the wild animal, it should be submitted to the ADH lab for Rabies testing.  The results of the test will determine what steps to take.

 

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What must I do if my dog or cat is bitten by a confirmed rabid animal?

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that unvaccinated animals be destroyed or quarantined for 90 days if they are bitten by a confirmed rabid animal.  They should be vaccinated immediately, and revaccinated at 5 weeks and again at 8 weeks after being bitten.  They may be released from quarantine if they show no signs of Rabies at the end of the 90 day quarantine period. 

Animals which were vaccinated during the preceding 12 months should be revaccinated immediately and kept in quarantine for 45 days. 



How much does it cost to have animal head tested for Rabies?

The ADH does not charge for Rabies testing. 

 

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What does Rabies treatment include?

A very important factor is thorough cleaning of the bite with soap and water and use of an effective antiseptic to remove or inactivate the Rabies virus which may have been in the saliva of the animal.

Two products are used in Rabies postexposure treatment. 

  • Human Rabies Immune Globulin, given once on the first day of treatment, and
  • Human Diploid Cell Vaccine, administered in 5 injections over 28 days.
  •  

How much is the Rabies vaccine?

The Rabies vaccine is very expensive, but, if it is necessary, no one will be denied the vaccine if they are not able to pay for the vaccine immediately.  Insurance companies, Medicare, etc., usually cover the cost.  Arrangements for convenient payments may be made.

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Important Points to Remember

A. If an animal is to be tested, do not shoot it in the head or otherwise damage the brain.

B. Wild animals, especially skunks and bats, may carry the Rabies virus and expose domestic livestock or unvaccinated pets.

C. It is much simpler and cheaper to capture and quarantine or capture and test an animal than to take the vaccine. 

D.Vaccinating dogs and cats is the best overall protection against Rabies.

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