Rabies
What is Rabies?
Rabies in the US
In the early 1900's there were more than 100 deaths per year from Rabies, primarily from dog bites. At that time there were no leash laws, no Rabies vaccinations for dogs and no treatment for Rabies if exposed. (If you're old enough to remember the book or movie Old Yeller, the dog gets Rabies protecting his family from a rabid wolf and later has to be shot).
"Animal Regulation" and "Rabies Control"
Rabies control consisted of requiring dogs to be vaccinated for Rabies, with a dog license as proof of vaccination. "Dog catchers" were hired to round up dogs running loose without a license (proof of Rabies vaccination), and quarantine (isolate) animals suspected of having Rabies. Later on, leash laws were enacted for dogs, even those having a dog license. These laws are still in effect to continue to control the spread of Rabies, and are enforced by local Animal Control Officers.
Rabies in Humans
What is "quarantine", and why does my pet have to be quarantined?
A "bite" is considered to be any break in the skin that draws blood, including a scratch by a tooth or nail.
When a dog or cat bites someone, the animal is quarantined (isolated) for a period of 10 days from the time of the bite. The purpose of the quarantine period is to monitor the animal for any signs of Rabies during that time. Generally, the dog or cat must be quarantined at the shelter or a veterinarian's office in order to be monitored, to prevent the animal from escaping, and to protect others from possible exposure. Even animals that have been vaccinated for Rabies are required to be quarantined.
If the animal had Rabies at the time of the bite, they would show symptoms of Rabies during the quarantine period. If the quarantine period passes and the animal is alive and healthy, the person bitten can rest assured they have not been exposed to Rabies. If the animal shows symptoms of Rabies during the quarantine period, or the animal cannot be found for quarantine, then the person who was bitten is advised to consult with their physician about receiving post exposure treatment to prevent developing Rabies. There is only a short window of time after the bite to start the treatment.
Animals that have been exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal have to be quarantined as well. The length of quarantine is 30 days for a dog or cat current on their Rabies vaccination, and 6 months for an animal that has no vaccination history, or the Rabies vaccination is expired.
State law requires bites to be reported to Animal Control, and that an animal that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to Rabies be quarantined. Someone who does not report a bite, conceals information about a biting animal, or fails to quarantine an animal when required may face penalties of up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1000 per day.
REPORT BITES HERE
Bats and Rabies
Bats are the primary source of Rabies in Butte County. Chico has has several bat test positive for Rabies. Any bat that is active during the day, is found in an unusual location (indoors or on the ground) or is unable to fly has a higher likelihood of being rabid. These bats are often easily approached but should not be handled. The only way to know if a bat has Rabies is to have it tested by a laboratory. Animal Control should be contacted to pick up a bat for testing under the following circumstances, especially since a bat bite is so small it could go undetected:
Preventing Rabies
Although Rabies is a deadly disease, there are simple precautions to minimize exposure to your family and your pets:
What is Rabies?
- A virus that affects the brain/nervous system of all mammals
- Transmits when infected saliva enters through a break in the skin - bite or scratch, or fresh wound like a scrape or cut, or more rarely, contact with mucous membranes - eyes, nose, mouth
- Cannot be passed through contact with urine, feces, or blood of infected animal
- Can incubate anywhere from 10 days to more than a year, but have been cases that were shorter or longer
- Over 99% fatal once symptoms appear - agonizing death (a few days to 2 weeks)
- Worldwide:
- Over 59,000 deaths per year
- 98% from dog bites
- Most fatal zoonotic (animal to human disease) in the world
Rabies in the US
In the early 1900's there were more than 100 deaths per year from Rabies, primarily from dog bites. At that time there were no leash laws, no Rabies vaccinations for dogs and no treatment for Rabies if exposed. (If you're old enough to remember the book or movie Old Yeller, the dog gets Rabies protecting his family from a rabid wolf and later has to be shot).
- 1885 - Louis Pasteur (France) created the first human post-exposure treatment
- 1921 - first Rabies vaccination for dogs invented in Japan
- 1947 - "Rabies Control" efforts begun in the US
"Animal Regulation" and "Rabies Control"
Rabies control consisted of requiring dogs to be vaccinated for Rabies, with a dog license as proof of vaccination. "Dog catchers" were hired to round up dogs running loose without a license (proof of Rabies vaccination), and quarantine (isolate) animals suspected of having Rabies. Later on, leash laws were enacted for dogs, even those having a dog license. These laws are still in effect to continue to control the spread of Rabies, and are enforced by local Animal Control Officers.
- 1950 - almost 6,000 cases of Rabies in dogs
- 1960 - less than 500 cases of Rabies in dogs
- California - skunks and bats are the most common carriers of Rabies
- Nationally - raccoons, foxes and coyotes are more common carriers
Rabies in Humans
- On average 1-3 human deaths per year in the US
- Only 42 human deaths in the US since 2003
- Majority were from exposure to wildlife - 70% of those exposures were from bats
- 28% of deaths were from contact with dogs outside the US
- Approximately 55,000 people receive post exposure treatment each year in the US - meaning they were potentially exposed to an animal carrying Rabies and were treated to prevent developing Rabies.
What is "quarantine", and why does my pet have to be quarantined?
A "bite" is considered to be any break in the skin that draws blood, including a scratch by a tooth or nail.
When a dog or cat bites someone, the animal is quarantined (isolated) for a period of 10 days from the time of the bite. The purpose of the quarantine period is to monitor the animal for any signs of Rabies during that time. Generally, the dog or cat must be quarantined at the shelter or a veterinarian's office in order to be monitored, to prevent the animal from escaping, and to protect others from possible exposure. Even animals that have been vaccinated for Rabies are required to be quarantined.
If the animal had Rabies at the time of the bite, they would show symptoms of Rabies during the quarantine period. If the quarantine period passes and the animal is alive and healthy, the person bitten can rest assured they have not been exposed to Rabies. If the animal shows symptoms of Rabies during the quarantine period, or the animal cannot be found for quarantine, then the person who was bitten is advised to consult with their physician about receiving post exposure treatment to prevent developing Rabies. There is only a short window of time after the bite to start the treatment.
Animals that have been exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal have to be quarantined as well. The length of quarantine is 30 days for a dog or cat current on their Rabies vaccination, and 6 months for an animal that has no vaccination history, or the Rabies vaccination is expired.
State law requires bites to be reported to Animal Control, and that an animal that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to Rabies be quarantined. Someone who does not report a bite, conceals information about a biting animal, or fails to quarantine an animal when required may face penalties of up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1000 per day.
REPORT BITES HERE
Bats and Rabies
Bats are the primary source of Rabies in Butte County. Chico has has several bat test positive for Rabies. Any bat that is active during the day, is found in an unusual location (indoors or on the ground) or is unable to fly has a higher likelihood of being rabid. These bats are often easily approached but should not be handled. The only way to know if a bat has Rabies is to have it tested by a laboratory. Animal Control should be contacted to pick up a bat for testing under the following circumstances, especially since a bat bite is so small it could go undetected:
- Bat is found in a room where someone has been sleeping,
- Bat is found in a room where a child has been unattended,
- Bat is found near someone who is mentally impaired or intoxicated,
- Bat is found on the ground where it could have been touched, or
- Pet is found playing with a bat.
Preventing Rabies
Although Rabies is a deadly disease, there are simple precautions to minimize exposure to your family and your pets:
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly,
- If bitten or scratched by any animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately,
- Report all bites to Animal Control,
- Keep Rabies vaccinations current for all your dogs and cats, even if they don't go outside,
- If you find a bat on the ground or indoors, do not attempt to handle or kill the bat. Put a coffee can or cup over the bat to keep it contained and call Animal Control.
