Post by L Roebuck on Oct 23, 2005 11:07:57 GMT -5
October 13, 2005
Rabies cause of Miss. death
By Camille C. Spencer
caspencer@jackson.gannett.com
A Mississippian has died from rabies — the first confirmed case for the state in 49 years, state health officials said Wednesday.
The individual's name, where and when the death occurred were not released. It is unknown whether the individual contracted the disease in Mississippi, said Liz Sharlot, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.
Rabies is caused by a bite-related injury through contact with bats, stray dogs or cats, wild carnivores, raccoons or foxes, State Epidemiologist Dr. Mills McNeill said. But only bat rabies is present in Mississippi, McNeill said. The rabies virus affects the central nervous system, he said.
"Contact with one of those animals requires medical follow-up," he said. "It's through biting exposure and saliva that it's transmitted. Human-to-human transmission is not known to occur. As tragic a case as this is, it doesn't pose a public health threat to Mississippi."
Symptoms are difficult to pinpoint, McNeill said, but detection is key for treatment.
People also are strongly encouraged to get their pets vaccinated, McNeill said.
"Rabies can present itself in a number of ways, none of which would give the clinician any clue it might be rabies in many cases," he said. "The majority of human rabies infections are the result of exposure to bats. There's no way to diagnose rabies except through tests."
Dr. Skip Nolan, University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of medicine with the Division of Infectious Disease, said humans who have been exposed to rabies can be treated with a vaccine if they seek treatment before developing symptoms.
"We often do this if the animal is confirmed to be rabid or a risk of being rabid, such as if the animal got away," Nolan said. "If we give this within five to seven days after exposure, it is virtually 100 percent effective."
The main way to be completely protected from exposure, Nolan said, is to leave dying bats alone.
"If you're bitten by one, you need to seek medical attention," he said.
If an animal such as a fox or raccoon is acting atypically, such as not running away from human contact, leave it alone, Nolan said.
"If in doubt, contact the Health Department, because there are therapies available," he said.
Mississippi News
www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/NEWS01/510130365/1002
Rabies cause of Miss. death
- Health officials have not yet released victim's name, other specific details about case
By Camille C. Spencer
caspencer@jackson.gannett.com
A Mississippian has died from rabies — the first confirmed case for the state in 49 years, state health officials said Wednesday.
The individual's name, where and when the death occurred were not released. It is unknown whether the individual contracted the disease in Mississippi, said Liz Sharlot, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.
Rabies is caused by a bite-related injury through contact with bats, stray dogs or cats, wild carnivores, raccoons or foxes, State Epidemiologist Dr. Mills McNeill said. But only bat rabies is present in Mississippi, McNeill said. The rabies virus affects the central nervous system, he said.
"Contact with one of those animals requires medical follow-up," he said. "It's through biting exposure and saliva that it's transmitted. Human-to-human transmission is not known to occur. As tragic a case as this is, it doesn't pose a public health threat to Mississippi."
Symptoms are difficult to pinpoint, McNeill said, but detection is key for treatment.
People also are strongly encouraged to get their pets vaccinated, McNeill said.
"Rabies can present itself in a number of ways, none of which would give the clinician any clue it might be rabies in many cases," he said. "The majority of human rabies infections are the result of exposure to bats. There's no way to diagnose rabies except through tests."
Dr. Skip Nolan, University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of medicine with the Division of Infectious Disease, said humans who have been exposed to rabies can be treated with a vaccine if they seek treatment before developing symptoms.
"We often do this if the animal is confirmed to be rabid or a risk of being rabid, such as if the animal got away," Nolan said. "If we give this within five to seven days after exposure, it is virtually 100 percent effective."
The main way to be completely protected from exposure, Nolan said, is to leave dying bats alone.
"If you're bitten by one, you need to seek medical attention," he said.
If an animal such as a fox or raccoon is acting atypically, such as not running away from human contact, leave it alone, Nolan said.
"If in doubt, contact the Health Department, because there are therapies available," he said.
Mississippi News
www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/NEWS01/510130365/1002