Protect Your Family from Rabies

Rabies is a dangerous virus that anyone can get if they handle or
get bitten by an animal that has the disease. Protect yourself and
your family from rabies: stay away from wild animals and be sure
pets are vaccinated every year.

Rabies is caused by a virus and can infect both people and
animals. People usually get rabies when they are bitten by an
animal that is sick with the disease. Early symptoms of rabies in
people can include fever, headache, and weakness. As the disease
gets worse, symptoms may include difficulty sleeping , anxiety,
confusion, tingling sensation usually at the site of the bite,
excitation, hallucinations, agitation, salivating more than usual,
difficulty swallowing, and fear of water. Death usually occurs
within days of the onset of symptoms.

Avoid
Wild Animals

More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each
year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies
include raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to
avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even
if they seem friendly. If you see a wild animal acting strangely,
report it to animal control.

Keep Pets Healthy

Family pets and other domestic animals can get rabies if they
are bitten by rabid wild animals. When rabies from wild animals
“spills over” into domestic animals, the risk to people is
increased because of our close contact with pets.

In general, pets have a higher risk of coming into contact with
wild animals that may have rabies than we do. Cats, dogs and
ferrets that have not gotten their rabies shots and are exposed to
rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down, because of
their risk of getting rabies after the exposure.

To
help reduce this risk:

• Visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and
  keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and
  dogs.
• Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets
  indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision when
  outdoors.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted
  animals that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated
  regularly.
• Call animal control to remove all stray animals from your
  neighborhood since these animals may be unvaccinated.
• Do not feed or water your pets outside and keep your garbage
  securely covered. These items may attract wild or stray
  animals.

Take Action If You Are Bitten

If you or someone in your family is exposed to a rabid animal,
rabies can be prevented through a series of shots called rabies
post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

If you are bitten by any animal (domestic or wild), immediately
wash the wound well with soap and water and see a healthcare
provider. Contact animal control if you are bitten by an animal, to
assist in capturing the animal for observation or rabies
testing.

Be
Cautious While Hiking, Camping, and Playing Outdoors

During the summer, many Americans love to spend time in the
outdoors. Few people will ever be exposed to a rabies-suspect
animal or need to see a doctor due to a potential exposure. Teach
children and others never to handle live or dead wild animals, as
well as unfamiliar domestic animals. Tell them to report any
unusual animal behavior to an adult right away, because it could
mean that the animal is very sick.

Some might have concerns about the presence of bats in locations
such as camps. While bats have been known to expose people to
rabies, most bats in a natural setting are not rabid and, in many
camp situations, the presence or sighting of bats is common and
normal.

However, precautions can be taken at camp sites and along trails
to help minimize the risk of exposure to bats for your child or
family members:

• When possible, prevent bats from entering campground living
  quarters and other occupied spaces. Animal care and wildlife
  conservation agencies can provide further information on
  “bat-proofing.” Visit the following link for more information on
  “bat-proofing”: http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/index.html
• Screens or mosquito netting can provide a useful barrier
  against direct bat contact.
• Teach children and other camp attendees never to handle live or
  dead bats, as well as unfamiliar wild or domestic animals (even if
  they appear friendly). Tell children to report any contact or
  unusual animal behavior to an adult or camp official right
  away.

Talk
With Your Family About the Seriousness of Rabies

While very few people die from rabies, life-threatening
situations can arise when potential exposures occur and preventive
measures are not undertaken. Each year 30,000 to 40,000 persons in
the U.S. require PEP due to potential exposures to rabies.

To help ensure your loved ones do not face similar risks, use
the above information to talk with your children and other family
members about the dangers of rabies, the threat of exposure from
wild animals and the things they need to do to stay healthy and
rabies free.