General Information:
Rabies is a preventable fatal viral zoonosis and a serious public health concern. It is transmissible to humans and other animals through saliva from infected animals (bites, scratches, licks on broken skin or mucous membranes for example). This disease is a fast-acting encephalitis whose first symptoms are often mistaken for other illnesses. As the disease begins to progress, symptoms involving the nervous symptom will become very obvious, which include: confusion, insomnia, excitation, slight or partial paralysis, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within 7 to 10 days upon onset of infection. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal in humans and all other mammals, however, rabies may be prevented by prompt medical treatment.

FAQ:

How can I protect my pet from rabies?
Visit with your veterinarian about having your pet vaccinated and keep all rabies shots up-to-date for cats, dogs, and ferrets.

Why does my pet need the rabies vaccine?
Domestic animals are far less likely to become infected with rabies than wild animals. Humans spend much more time with domestic animals and less with wild; however, a domestic animal could encounter a wild rabid animal. A domestic animal could become infected through a bite or scratch with a wild rabid animal and pass it on to the owner. A domestic animal that is up-to-date on rabies vaccine is far less likely to pass the disease on to the owner or other animals if a bite or scratch were to occur.

What happens if a neighborhood animal (dog or cat) bites me?
Seek medical attention for any animal bite. The responsibility of the doctor administering medical attention is to pass the animal bite information to the Fulton County Health Department for an investigation. The FCHD will ask that the owner's veterinarian submit a rabies vaccination form to the FCHD and quarantine the animal. The animal should be quarantined for a period of 10 days by the owner to observe for any possible symptoms that could lead to a rabies diagnosis.

If the animal appeared sick when it bit the victim, it should be transported to the veterinarian to be examined for any physical signs of rabies. If the veterinarian believes that there is a potential rabies exposure, he/she will destroy the animal and submit the head to the Ohio Department of Health for rabies testing. The post-exposure prophylaxis treatment can be discontinued if the animal is not diagnosed with rabies.

How soon should I seek medical treatment?
A bite victim should seek medical treatment as soon as possible after the bite. The United States has not had a failure with post-exposure prophylaxis treatment when administered promptly and to the full duration of the treatment.

What happens if the animal cannot be found after a bite?
If the animal cannot be found, there is no method of observing or testing the animal for possible signs of rabies. The medical professional will begin full post-exposure prophylaxis treatment until it is completed.

Should I only worry about cats, dogs and ferrets?
The answer is no. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that all mammals are susceptible to the disease, which amplifies the importance of reporting and obtaining medical treatment for all bites. Bats, raccoons, skunks, and even livestock can potentially become infected with rabies.

Can I get rabies without being bitten?
Yes, a person or mammal can become infected with rabies through abrasions, scratches, or mucous membranes that come into contact with potentially infectious material (such as saliva or brain matter). Laboratory employees working with rabies have the potential of exposure through aerosolized rabies, but the general public rarely comes into contact with that type of exposure.

What does not count as a potential exposure to rabies?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that petting an infected mammal or contact with blood, urine, or feces does not constitute a potential rabies exposure.

If I wake up and there is a bat in my room, does that count as an exposure?
Yes, because the fangs and nails of a bat are so small that a sleeping person would not notice either a bite or scratch. Capturing the bat, dead or alive, so it can be tested through the Ohio Department of Health laboratory.

If there are any further questions that this website did not address, feel free to contact the Fulton County Health Department by phone or via email.