Transcript Rabies Control Program

Rabies Control Program
4-H Veterinary Science
Extension Veterinary Medicine
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science
Texas A&M System
http://aevm.tamu.edu
Objectives
 Understand that because rabies is a
reportable disease, it has been controlled
 Understand that health regulations for rabies
prevent its spread among animals and to
humans
History
 Human deaths/year
1940’s – 40
 1980 – <2
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 Cases reported
Prior to 1958 – most in domestic animals
 After 1958 – most in wild animals
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 Only 15% of reported cases now occur in
domestic animals
Rabies
 Definition
Viral disease of warm-blooded animals
 Disease of overpopulation
 Affects the central nervous system
 Zoonotic
 Reportable
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Causative Agent
 Caused by strains of rabies virus
 Wildlife strains
Skunk
 Coyote
 Fox
 Raccoon
 Bat
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 Wild animal reservoirs
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Since 1980 in the U.S., more than 90%of the
domestically acquired human rabies cases were
from bats
-CDC
Transmission
 Transmitted by all warm-blooded animals
 Saliva is the primary means of transmission
 Can enter the body by
Bites
 Breaks/scratch in the skin
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 Average incubation period is 3-8 weeks
 Saliva of skunks contains more rabies virus
than any other species
 High-Risk Species
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Skunks
Coyotes
Foxes
Raccoons
Bats
 Low-Risk Species
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Opossums
Armadillos
Rabbits
Rats
Mice
Squirrels
Beavers
Diagnosis
 Aka hydrophobia
Animal can’t drink due to throat paralysis
 Saliva accumulation
 “Mad dog” look
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 Veterinarian submits brain to lab
 Lab test
 Three phases of the disease
Incubation period
 Clinical signs
 Paralysis
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 Clinical symptoms (behavior change)
 Anorexia
Apprehension
 Nervousness
 Irritability
 Hyperexcitability
 Ataxia (loss of muscle coordination)
 Altered temperament
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 Post-exposure prophylaxis decision
Species of biting animal
 Vaccination status of animal
 Provoked vs. not provoked
 Prevalence of rabies in the area
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 If human or animal is bitten
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Find the animal
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Do not shoot the suspected animal in the head
Contact local health official
 Treatment
Wash wound immediately
 Consider post-exposure prophylaxis
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Not a foregone conclusion
Rarely an emergency
Prevention
 Don’t adopt wild animals
 Vaccinate
 Avoid contact with wild animals
 Discourage potential rabies reservoirs from inhabiting
premises around home
 Eliminate brushy, grassy areas for wildlife nesting
 Keep pet and livestock foods away
from wildlife
 Eliminate wild persimmon trees and berry
vines that attract wildlife
Regulation and Control
 Need an informed and cooperative public
 Immunization of all owned dogs and cats (>3
months)
 Registration and licensing
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Keep records for 3 years
 Impoundment of strays
 Quarantine of rabies suspects
 Rabies Vaccination Certificate
 Quarantine
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10 days
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45 days
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Vaccinated
90 days
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Healthy animal bites someone
Un-vaccinated
Wild animal
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Euthanize immediately and test
 Local Rabies Control Authority (LRCA)
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Health and Safety Code 826.017 Commissioners Court of each county and local
governing body of each municipality shall
designate……local rabies control authority
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Can be health official, animal control officer,
peace officer or any other entity
Vaccination
 Administered by or under supervision of a
veterinarian
 Immunized dogs and cats serve as a barrier
between humans and wildlife
 Vaccinate all dogs and cats at 3 months of
age and revaccinate yearly
 Certificate of vaccination will be issued and
retained
 No rabies vaccine is licensed for use in wild
animals