RABID
ANIMALS
A number of rabid animal encounters during the winter of 2003/2004 has brought increased awareness of the potential that we may
be exposed to similar encounters during our hikes. In February 2004, a
rabid fox bit a hiker on the Hugh Norris Trail in
What is Rabies? - Rabies is a viral disease that
affects the central nervous system of mammals and is always fatal once symptoms
appear. This includes wild animals as well as pets. In
How do animals and people get rabies? - There
are several ways the rabies virus is spread. The most common way is being
bitten by an animal infected with the virus. Rabies is spread when broken skin
or mucous membranes come into contact with infected matter (saliva or nerve
tissue) from a rabid animal.
Once the rabies virus has entered an animal’s body, it can follow the nervous
system and eventually reach the brain, causing an infection. The virus
then travels to the salivary glands and is shed in the saliva of the infected
animal. Rabies can then be spread to other animals and people. The time
between contact with the rabies virus (an exposure) and visible signs of
illness first appear (rabies infection in the brain) varies from a few days to
several months. An animal can pass the infection to other animals or humans
from 3 to 5 days before the onset of visible signs and throughout the course of
the infection.
What does a rabid animal look like? - You cannot
tell if an animal has rabies just by looking at it. In the very early
stages of the rabies infection in the brain, there may not be any clear signs
of illness. As the disease progresses, obvious signs of illness may
appear. The behavior of animals with rabies may seem strange. They may
appear unusually tame and friendly, with no fear of
humans (healthy wild animals usually maintain a distance and run away if
approached). They may appear restless and very aggressive, often biting
at real and imaginary things. They might bite or scratch at an old wound
until it bleeds. They might drool a lot. As the disease progresses, a rabid
animal may have difficulty chewing, drinking, walking or even moving.
Eventually the animal will die, usually within several days from the appearance
of visible signs.
How can you protect against rabies? - While
hiking, enjoy wildlife from a distance. Do not feed or handle wild
animals. Leave animals that may appear abandoned or orphaned alone. If
approached by a wild animal, try to scare it away by throwing things at each.
Use your hiking stick if it gets too close.
What should you do if exposed? - If you believe
you have been exposed to the rabies virus in any way, wash the affected area
thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as
possible. Quick treatment is critical to preventing the disease if
exposure occurs. A doctor will assess the risk and decide whether preventative
treatment for rabies is necessary. Treatment for an exposure to rabies
includes wound care and a series of injections.
Prepared by T. Johnson from 9 January and 21 February 2004
articles in the Arizona Daily Star and the New Brunswick Department of Health
and Wellness Website.
Additional Material: GVHC Library File 83