United States: Experts are urging residents to observe caution when undertaking their activities because there have been reported cases of rabid animals in some regions of the United States.
More about the news
In Missouri, a rabid raccoon bit two dogs, and rabid bats were identified in two different homes this month.
Just last month, a stray cat that was infected with rabies bit a person in Staten Island, New York; in addition, a rabid coyote in Massachusetts mauled two people in a park.
In this year, yet another raccoon that was infected with the virus assaulted visitors to a theme park in Pennsylvania in March, while a hiker from Rhode Island had to choke a rabid coyote in February as the animal attempted to scratch the man and his dog.
Evidence exists that in some regions of the States, there are more animals with rabies than before, and the Ministry of Health officials focus on bats as their primary target, DailyMail reported.
Nonetheless, there are increased reports of rabid animals; the officials have not claimed that rabies cases are on the rise in human beings.
What more have the officials stated?
Health officials in South Carolina warned about rabies: One needs to understand that any human being, including children, can be bitten by a bat and be ignorant of it because bats have small teeth.
The health officials in South Carolina, while giving warnings over rabies, said, “It is critical to know that people, especially children, can be bitten by a bat and not know it. That is because bats have tiny teeth.”
Less than ten people are affected by the disease annually, according to various statistical data available; most of the cases are averted through an administration of shots people are given after one is exposed to the suspected rabid animals, which helps in preventing the virus from establishing in the individual concerned.
Those patients being suspected of infection, should be given the first dose within the first 24 hours, and the subsequent three doses on the third, seventh and fourteenth days after the first jab, as per health experts.
Basic information about the disease shows that rabies is more than 99 percent fatal.
Kansas-based infectious diseases specialist Dr Thomas Moore told DailyMail News that in the recent decade, he has received more people coming to him fearing rabies without an actual increase in the occurrences.
He added, “It is very rare for anyone to get diagnosed with rabies,” and” when it happens, it is sensational — people will hear about it.”
“Normally, what happens is if there is an unprovoked animal attack, then people get worried about it, and they may get the rabies vaccine,” he continued.