Rabies is a fatal virus that can affect wildlife, domestic animals, and people. That’s what we’ve always been told, right? But what exactly is rabies? How common is it? And how big of a threat is it to my family, pets, etc.? Wednesday, September 28th, is the 10th annual World Rabies Day as established by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. In honor of World Rabies Day, these questions will be addressed in context of wildlife and from the standpoint of a wildlife rehabilitation center.
At the Wildlife Center of Virginia, it is part of our mission to provide accurate information to the public regarding native wildlife. This information includes discussing human health risks when handling wildlife, such as safe capture/restraint and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Rabies is a viral disease that can affect any mammal, including humans, and causes damage to the nervous system and most of the time, results in death1, 2. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva or contact with the nervous system tissue (i.e. brain, spinal cord, etc.) of an infected animal2. Mammals affected by the virus may act wild or erratic but can also act lethargic and/or exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors such as a lack of fear of humans. Certain animals are more prone to carrying the virus than others. In Virginia, the following species tested positive for rabies virus in 2015 in order from most to fewest incidents: raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, groundhogs, and otters, with opossums and beavers considered “at risk” 4, 5. The most common domestic animals that tested positive for rabies virus in 2015 were cats, followed by cows, dogs, goats, horses, and pigs5. With these facts in mind, rabies in domestic animals has been greatly reduced with the help of vaccines, but that still doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cautious when our pets or livestock come in contact with wildlife. If your pet comes in contact with a wild mammal, contact your local health department and/or veterinarian for immediate advice.
Currently, the recommendation for humans bitten by a wild mammal, particularly those animals that are considered “high risk”, is submitting that animal for rabies testing, contacting your local health department, and seeking immediate medical attention1, 2, 3, 6. The only way to confirm a rabies-positive animal is through post-mortem testing of the brain tissue. Therefore, if a suspected rabid animal needs to be put down, avoid methods that damage the head, e.g. gunshots to the head damage the brain. It is very important to remember to wear protective gloves and clothing when handling ANY wild animal or carcass. At the Wildlife Center of Virginia, we put human safety before anything else. That being said, we will comply with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health’s guidelines and recommendations on what to do with a wild animal that was known to have bitten or scratched a human.
For more information regarding rabies virus, including the proper steps to take if you or your pet are exposed to a wild animal, visit the following links or contact your state’s health department.