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Arkansas
Department of Health
Web Site for
Rabies
Information
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PDF files Require Adobe Acrobat Reader | Download NOW
| Annual
Rabies Summary |
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Animal
Rabies Testing Results 2000-2004 |
Information
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PDF |
| Positive
Animal Rabies Results Map 2006 |
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| Frequently
Asked Questions |
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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.
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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
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Rabavert (Chick Embryo Cell Vaccine) Chiron Corp.
distributed by Bio-Pharm Distributors at
(866)-869-9678
(They also have HRIG)
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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
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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
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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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