Rabies has been an epidemic among North Carolinian wildlife since the early 1990s, but careful regulation and diligent pet owners have slowed the spread. Recently, North Carolina has been one of the most rabies-infested states due to an increase in the number of infected raccoons.
Rabies is an infectious virus passed through saliva into the nervous system of the infected host. In most cases, this is the result of a bite from a rabid animal. Dr. Jay Levine, a professor of epidemiology and public health, said the danger is still a very real threat.
“[There is] almost a 100 percent [mortality rate],” Levine said. “There have only been a few survivors.”
Levine said students should not approach wild animals, as they are the primary carriers of this virus.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the bite doesn’t instantaneously infect the host, but the bite must be treated immediately after in order to have the best effect.
“If a human patient receives a wild animal bite, a doctor must proactively treat the patient to prevent infection, using a rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, even if the animal showed no signs of being rabid,” Levine said. “If it’s not tested, it’s considered rabid until proven otherwise.”
The infection can cause paralysis, often in the muscles of the throat, making it difficult or impossible for the animal to eat or drink. This conflict causes both a manic nature in rabid animals, or in some cases, a lethargic and depressed state for the animal.
According to the NCDHHS, the virus has an incubation period of about six months, which means the symptoms will not be seen before this period. By this time it is usually too late to prevent death. Unvaccinated pets can be infected with the virus and then eventually pass the virus to their owners before death.
North Carolina Public Health Law states that all owners of dogs, cats and ferrets must have their animals vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian by the time the animal is four months old.
According to Levine, rabies infections in humans have been greatly suppressed by the use of rabies vaccines in pets and immediate responses to wild-animal bites. On campus, that safety relies on students being diligent about wild-animal bites and keeping pets vaccinated.
Levine said that preventing the contraction and spread of rabies is easy to control and that all pet owners should take the necessary precautions.
“Everyone who owns a dog or a cat should have the animal vaccinated by a veterinarian,” Levine said. “They should make routine visits to their veterinarian to make sure that they are getting vaccinated, and they should avoid making contact with any wildlife that is behaving in an unusual manner.”
