Unlike dogs, cats and many other domestic species of animals, humans are not routinely vaccinated for rabies but people definitely are a group that can potentiallly develop the fatal disease. The individuals most at risk for developing rabies include veterinarians, vet techs, wildlife management officers and people that are traveling in areas where rabies is in an outbreak or where rabies is a ongoing health problem. Any people that work in wildlife rescues or even agricultural workers that may be in contact with bats, skunks, coyotes, foxes or raccoons are slightly at risk and should use appropriate caution.

For those people working in high risk professions there are preventative human rabies vaccines that can be provided. In addition treatment immediately after a bite is highly recommended and can be very successful in preventing rabies from occurring within the individual. Any person that is bitten by a wild animal, domestic animal or an animal that is acting in an unusual fashion should immediately consult with a doctor even if the animal is not available for testing or observation.

It is important to note that in very rare and extremely unusual circumstances the brain tissue of an infected animal or even the saliva immediately after the animal dies can potentially cause infection if it comes in contact with an open wound, scratch, the membrane of the eye, or cut on a person. In most of these very rare cases of infection the individual has handled the dead animal within 24 hours after death. If you do have to move or handle the carcass of an animal where the cause of death is unknown or rabies is suspected there are some safety precautions you should use. The first step is to only move the animal when wearing surgical gloves or gloves that are thick and completely protect your skin from any fluids from the body. In the case of small animals it is best to move the carcass using something other than your hands, a shovel is an ideal option. Hose off the implement with warm water and soap and also wash your hands, arms or any other body surfaces that were exposed during handling the carcass.

When an animal is suspected of having rabies and dies, immediately contact your law enforcement agency, veterinarian or animal control department. State that you believe the animal had rabies and explain the symptoms you noticed. Ideally don't touch the carcass and keep all dogs, cats, children or other people well away. It will be important to actually have the brain tissue tested by a vet or disease control center so don't burn, remove, burry or otherwise destroy the carcass until you have been advised to do so.

If a person is bit by an animal that appears to be rabid it is important to try to confine, trap or kill the animal for testing. In some cases if the animal is available and not showing signs of being rabid it may be simply observed for 10 days to see if rabies develops. The ten day period is long enough since any animal exhibiting signs of rabies will not live longer than 10 days after the virus has moved into and attacked the brain and nervous system. If the animal does not show signs of rabies within that 10 days then it could not have infected the person since animals are not able to pass on the condition unless the virus is in the brain and salivary glands. During this period a doctor may decide to proceed with precautionary vaccinations as well as treatment for tetanus or general antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections.

Humans are extremely unlikely to develop rabies if they complete the post infection vaccination and immediately seek medical attention. If you can't immediately get to your doctor it is essential to flush out the wound or puncture as soon as possible with anti-bacterial soap and water and ensure that the wound stays clean. This is important to prevent any secondary infections that may be problematic even if rabies is not an issue.

People that are bit by a rabid animal or somehow come into direct contact with saliva or brain tissue can develop the virus if they don't start treatment as recommended by their physician. The first symptoms of rabies in humans are very similar to the flu, headaches, fever, achy feeling throughout the body as well as irritation, inflammation and itching at the site of the bite. Typically the first symptoms will not occur until 2 to 12 weeks after the initial bite and infection, however some cases have been traced to bites that happened months before the symptoms became evident.

Typically within one to three days of these vague types of flu like symptoms paralysis will start to become problematic. This can also include neurological issues that cause seizures, violent movements and very random mood swings. In addition people will also exhibit signs of hydrophobia that includes an inability to swallow or drink water or other liquids or foods. As the neurological inflammation continues to progress the individual will have labored breathing and will soon slip into a coma, followed shortly by death. For most untreated humans death will occur in less than a week after the symptoms are found to be present.

As with any type of species once the symptoms appear there is no treatment or cure. With fairly immediate treatment after rabies is confirmed or suspected in the animal the treatment prognosis is very good and full recovery is the norm. Humans that have been treated for rabies usually have no long term effects from the virus and can have very healthy, happy and absolutely normal lives. Current vaccinations post bite are effective as long as the first vaccination is administered less than six days after the bite but ideally on the day of the bite and also on day three, then as scheduled afterwards. Often the animal is still under observation at this time but the vaccinations will be started as a preventative measure. If rabies is confirmed or the animal is not available for observation or brain tissue testing post mortem there are a series of five vaccinations that are given over a month time line. In addition each person receives two immunoglobulin shots with the first vaccination. This is no longer injected into the stomach and is not a painful procedure like it used to be just a few years ago.

It is essential to keep in mind that there have only been approximately 36 cases of rabies in humans in the United States since the 1980's. Of these 36 cases 21 were traced back to bats, not to domestic animals or even wild animals.

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