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The rabies virus is transmitted to others through the saliva of the infected animal. All mammals can carry the virus. Humans can contract the virus through a bite from the infected animal, or from a scratch, scrape, open wound, or mucous membrane that comes in contact with the saliva. It is not possible to contract the virus by petting a rabid animal or through contact with the blood, urine, or feces of a rabid animal.

Rabies is found in all states, and in many countries, including Canada and Mexico.

Before 1960, most rabies cases were found in domestic animals, such as the dog or cat. But with the rabies vaccine now required for pets and livestock, most rabies animal cases today are found in wild animals. It is found most often in raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Rarely it is found in rabbits, squirrels, rats, and opossums, although it is becoming more common in groundhogs. Raccoons are a concern because they often interact with household pets.

If you are on a hike and don't have soap with you, use water alone, but wash with soap as soon as you can. If you wake up to find a bat in your room or in your child's room, call your healthcare provider even if you don't think you've been bitten or scratched by the bat. Bats have small teeth that leave marks that aren't easy to spot, and you could have been bitten while sleeping without being aware of it. Even if you are bitten by an animal not likely to carry the rabies virus, you should still call your health care provider.

Symptoms usually appear 30 to 90 days after exposure. Depending on the severity of the bite and the place on the body that was bitten, symptoms may appear more quickly. In rare cases, however, a person may not develop symptoms until a year or more after exposure.

Other early symptoms include headache, fever, tiredness, sore throat, loss of appetite, stiff muscles, dilation of the eyes, increased saliva production, and unusual sensitivity to sound, light and, changes of temperature. As the disease progresses, convulsions are common, and the person may have severe throat spasms when trying to swallow. The disease continues to progress for about a week, until the person dies, usually of respiratory failure.

The sound of a dog's bark may change, or the dog may bark or growl constantly. It may be restless and attack any moving object. These symptoms last 3 to 7 days. This is followed by convulsions, paralysis and death. The paralysis sometimes appears early on, marked by paralysis of the lower jaw, drooling and foaming saliva. The animal may appear to be choking on something.

The first stage in treatment is an injection of antibodies, called human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a rabies vaccine shot. The shot helps the body start making its own antibodies to the virus. Ideally, the HRIG and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given on the same day as the possible exposure. Even if the delay is longer than that, the person should still be given treatment. The rabies shot is given on days 3, 7, and 14. Half of the HRIG is injected around the bite site, with the remainder in the upper arm muscle. Side effects of the vaccine may include swelling or redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches and dizziness. Treatment for rabies must begin soon after exposure, because once symptoms appear, nothing can be done to stop the progression of the disease.

Other recommendations: Don't touch a dead animal; make sure your home is sealed to prevent wild animals from slipping into a basement, porch or attic; report any animals that are acting strangely to your local animal control department.