Description

Rabies is a neurologic viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. It is most often found in wild animals, and especially rabies vector species. Vector species are any species of wild animals known to naturally inhibit the rabies virus. In Kentucky, there are several including: the Coyote, Gray Fox, Raccoon, Red Fox, Spotted Skunk, and Striped Skunk. It can also be found in many feral dog populations.

Rabies spreads and is contracted via saliva of an infected person or animal and can enter through the eyes, mouth, or cuts on skin. Even if an animal does not bite you, it is still possible to contract it via a scratch or through cross contamination.

The period between being infected with rabies and showing symptoms is typically 1-3 months but can be as short as four days or as long as six years. It all really depends on how bad the bite or scratch was/ is and how much infected saliva was able to enter the wound. This is why it’s crucial that anytime you are bitten or even scratched by a wild animal, you seek medical attention immediately. Go straight to the emergency room.

Symptoms and Types

There are two main types of rabies: furious (encephalitic) rabies and dumb (paralytic) rabies. The furious variation is the one that’s most popular. Symptoms include: stumbling, foaming at the mouth, unprovoked aggression, and so on. The second type is a much less known about form which includes lethargy and a desire to avoid contact. Both types include other symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, confusion, hydrophobia, paralysis, delirium, coma, and more. Once contracted there is virtually zero chance of survival.

Below is a good demonstration of how an animal looks/ acts when it has rabies (TRIGGER WARNING – Video may be disturbing to some viewers. Just try looking at it from an educational standpoint if you choose to.)

Rabies Prevention

The main way to prevent the spread of rabies is to avoid (if at all possible) any contact with live wild animals and especially the vector species mentioned above. Rabies is a mammal only viral disease meaning that it can only be found in and transmitted between mammals. You’re never going to contract rabies from a lizard, snake, bird, frog, etc.

Also, if you see nocturnal animals such as raccoons out during the day, do not be alarmed. It is uncommon but not unheard of to see them out during the day. Some things you can look for to tell if an animal has rabies would be mange, hair loss, drooling, stumbling, foaming at the mouth, loss of coordination, seizures, and unprovoked aggression. Then again, don’t get too close to examine the animal and continue to keep your distance.

Rabies Treatment

If bitten or scratched by a wild animal, no matter how small it may seem, seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room. There they can treat you with antibiotics for both tetanus, rabies, and any other bacteria or viruses that might have been presented in that animal’s mouth or claws. Preventative rabies vaccines are 100% effective so don’t freak out too much, just don’t delay! Also try to keep the wounded area(s) clean by using fresh water and hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide will at least kill some surface bacteria and also serve to wash it away.

Finally, don’t risk coming into contact with wild animals whether outside or even in your own home or similar structure. If nuisance wild animals need to be removed or dealt with trust the professionals at S-Tier to effectively capture and remove them. Call us anytime toll-free at 859-492-6284 or reach out to us via email at S-TierWildlifeControl@outlook.com.