Every 9 Minutes, Someone in the World Dies of Rabies

A human death from rabies is a tragic but rare thing in the United States and most developed nations. It’s just as tragic but sadly common in parts of the world where some 3 billion people are at risk of being bitten by a rabid dog. More than 59,000 people die of rabies each year because they cannot get the care they need. That’s about 1 person dying of rabies every 9 minutes.

Most of these deaths are in Africa and Asia, and nearly half of the victims are children under the age of 15. Many of these lives can be saved if bite victims and healthcare providers know what to do and have what they need —rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin.

“Measures to prevent rabies in people are simple: wash the wound right after you are bitten and get follow-up care and vaccination immediately,” said Ryan Wallace, veterinary epidemiologist with CDC. “However, the primary method of prevention, and the more cost-effective intervention in the fight against rabies, is vaccination of domestic pets, particularly dogs.”

Today is World Rabies Day, an opportunity for people around the world to learn more about the impact that rabies has on people and animals and what each of us can do to put the world on the path toward eliminating rabies. This year’s theme is End Rabies Together, which challenges individuals and organizations to pull together to end the needless suffering and deaths caused by this preventable disease.

The fact that so few people in the United States and other developed nations get rabies shows that the disease can be controlled. Canine rabies has been eliminated in the United States, thanks to routine dog vaccinations and licensing and better control of stray dogs. Since the control of canine rabies in the United States, it has now been recognized that numerous wild animals can be infected with this disease. For that reason, people still must remain aware of the risk of rabies and seek medical care when exposed to wildlife and unusually acting animals.

Health Research: 160 people die of rabies every day ♦ Smokers underestimate risks of a few cigarettes ♦ Sleep for helping people absorb new information

Smokers underestimate risks of a few cigarettes Many people still dangerously underestimate the health risks of smoking even a few cigarettes a day, despite decades of public health statements. People who smoke very much tend to underestimate their risks and denial is prevalent.

Experts warn Ebola epidemic could return with a vengeance unless lessons about medical trials are learned  Health experts have warned that a greater flexibility must be brought to medical trials to combat diseases like Ebola to avoid facing another nightmare outbreak. The rapid spread of the Ebola and the urgency of a response led to many challenges of advising  those managing people of the best way to treat the illness.

Nothing beats a good night's sleep for helping people absorb new information Researchers have found that successful long-term learning happens of classroom teaching, after the learners have slept.

9/11 leaves legacy of chronic ill health among emergency medical services workers The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 have left a legacy of chronic ill health among emergency medical services workers who came to rescue victims. Those who arrived first are most at risk of physical and mental ailments,.

160 people die of rabies every day, says major new study A global study on canine rabies has found that 160 people die every day. The report is the first study to consider the impact in terms of deaths and the economic costs of rabies across all countries. Even though the disease is preventable, 59,000 people die every year of rabies transmitted by dogs, and the disease costs global economies $8.6 billion US.

2/4/15 Health News:‘Adulterated Herbal Supplements ♦ Fostering community of 'good' bacteria ♦ New treatment for rabies ♦ Sugary drinks linked to earlier menstrual periods

BIG RETAILERS ORDERED TO STOP SELLING ‘ADULTERATED’ AND ‘MISLABELED’ HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

The New York Attorney General’s office has ordered four major retailers — Walmart, Target, Walgreens and GNC — to stop selling “adulterated” and “mislabeled” herbal supplements that independent lab tests show do not contain ingredients as stated on the labels. NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent cease-and-desist letters  Continue Reading

Immune system promotes digestive health by fostering community of 'good' bacteria

1.4 million Americans suffer from uncomfortable abdominal cramping and diarrhea that come with inflammatory bowel disease. The condition is associated with an imbalance among the thousands of species of 'good' bacteria that inhabit the gut. A new study demonstrates that a component of the immune system, MyD88, coordinates a host immune response that promotes a healthy colony of good bacteria, and digestive health. Continue Reading

Hospitals helping violence victims could save millions

In the first systematic look at the economic outcomes of hospital-based violence intervention, researchers demonstrate that, in addition to transforming victims' lives, these programs may indeed save a significant amount of money , in various sectors including healthcare and criminal justice,  Continue Reading

Beating the clock: researchers develop new treatment for rabies

Those who suffer a bite from a rabid animal have a brief window of time to seek medical help before the virus takes root in the central nervous system, at which point the disease is almost invariably fatal. Now, researchers have successfully tested a treatment on mice that cures the disease even after the virus has spread to the brain  Continue Reading:

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Sugary drinks linked to earlier onset of menstrual periods

Girls who frequently consume sugary drinks tend to start their menstrual periods earlier than girls who do not, according to new research. The findings are important not only because of the growing problem of childhood obesity in a number of developed countries, but also because starting periods earlier is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer later in life. Continue Reading

Rabies Detected in Keen’s Myotis Bat – Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

On July 13, biologists working on Prince of Wales Island trapped several Keen’s myotis bats near Harris River. One bat that appeared to be potentially ill and was acting more aggressively than the others was later euthanized and submitted to the Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL) for rabies testing. This bat tested positive for rabies on July 17 and is only the third bat ever found to have rabies in Alaska.

There are several objectives for this Health Advisory:

1. To update what is known about bat rabies occurrence in Alaska;
2. To reinforce that people bitten by or exposed to bats should be evaluated promptly for possible rabies post-exposure prophylaxis; and
3. To encourage people finding sick or dead bats to contact wildlife and/or health authorities.

Prior bat rabies cases in Alaska

Six species of bats live in Alaska. Prior to July 2014, only two bats had been confirmed with rabies in Alaska. In 1993, a little brown bat found near Ketchikan in the Tongass Forest tested positive for rabies; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) characterized the virus strain as a silver-haired bat rabies virus variant. In 2006, a Keen’s myotis bat from northeastern Prince of Wales Island tested positive; that strain was characterized as a red bat rabies virus variant. There have been no cases of bat variant rabies among non-bats in Alaska.

In general, migratory patterns of bats in Alaska are not well-documented. It is reasonable to assume that rabies circulates among bat populations in southeastern Alaska, although we cannot exclude the possibility that any of the rabies-infected bats originated from outside Alaska. Bats from other regions in Alaska, including the Kenai Peninsula and the Anchorage-Mat-Su Valley area, have all tested negative for rabies. Samples from this third rabid bat will be sent to CDC for rabies virus variant characterization.

Potential bat exposures

Anyone who may have been bitten or scratched by a bat should contact a health care provider immediately to be evaluated for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. If the bat is still available, it should be submitted to ASVL for rabies testing. Health care providers can contact the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) for assistance with rabies exposure consultations and for routing bats to ASVL for rabies testing. Call Epidemiology at 907-269-8000 M-F 8AM-5PM, or 800-478-0084 after hours.

Search for Children Playing with Rabid Bat

Children Playing With Rabid Bat

In New York's Tompkins County, Health Officials are still looking for 3 children who were playing with a rabid bat on [30 Jun 2014] in Dryden. The 3 kids were seen playing with the bat at Montgomery Park between 1:30 and 2:30 pm. The children are described as being a girl, about 7 or 8-years-old and 2 younger boys.The health department says it is imperative that they find the children so they can test them for rabies.Anyone with information about the identity of the 3 children should call 315-274-6688.

While the media report mentions the children will be "checked" for rabies, what will be check for is the need for post exposure prophylaxis. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations on Rabies vaccination is very detailed vis a vis exposures to bats:

"The most common rabies virus variants responsible for human rabies in the United States are bat-related; therefore, any potential exposure to a bat requires a thorough evaluation. If possible, bats involved in potential human exposures should be safely collected and submitted for rabies diagnosis.....

"The risk for rabies resulting from an encounter with a bat might be difficult to determine because of the limited injury inflicted by a bat bite (compared with more obvious wounds caused by the bite of terrestrial carnivores), an inaccurate recall of a bat encounter that might have occurred several weeks or months earlier, and evidence that some bat-related rabies viruses might be more likely to result in infection after inoculation into superficial epidermal layers.

For these reasons, any direct contact between a human and a bat should be evaluated for an exposure. If the person can be reasonably certain a bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure did not occur, or if the bat is available for testing and is negative for presence of rabies virus, postexposure prophylaxis is not necessary. Other situations that might qualify as exposures include finding a bat in the same room as a person who might be unaware that a bite or direct contact had occurred (e.g., a deeply sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or intoxicated person). These situations should not be considered exposures if rabies is ruled out by diagnostic testing of the bat, or circumstances suggest it is unlikely that an exposure took place. Other household members who did not have direct contact with the bat or were awake and aware when in the same room as the bat should not be considered as having been exposed to rabies.

Circumstances that make it less likely that an undetected exposure occurred include the observation of bats roosting or flying in a room open to the outdoors, the observation of bats outdoors or in a setting where bats might normally be present, or situations in which the use of protective covers (e.g., mosquito netting) would reasonably be expected to preclude unnoticed contact. Because of the complexity of some of these situations, consultation with state and local health departments should always be sought. If necessary, further guidance can be sought from CDC and experts in bat ecology.

"During 1990--2007, a total of 34 naturally acquired bat-associated human cases of rabies was reported in the United States. In six cases, a bite was reported; in two cases, contact with a bat and a probable bite were reported; in 15 cases, physical contact was reported (e.g., the removal of a bat from the home or workplace or the presence of a bat in the room where the person had been sleeping), but no bite was documented; and in 11 cases, no bat encounter was reported. In these cases, an unreported or undetected bat bite remains the most plausible hypothesis because the genetic sequences of the human rabies viruses closely matched those of specific species of bats

Rabies Cases Drop in South Dakota

After two years of increasing cases, rabies numbers in South Dakota dropped to 28 in 2013. There were 60 cases of animal rabies in 2012 and 40 in 2011.

“Rabies is a cyclical disease, with high case numbers one year and lower numbers the next but the fact is that it is a risk every year in South Dakota,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist for the Department of Health. “It’s important to make sure your pets are vaccinated to protect yourself and your animals.”   

Twenty South Dakota counties had rabies detections in 2013. Those detections included seven domestic animals – five cattle, one dog and one cat – as well as 16 skunks and five bats. South Dakota’s last human rabies case was reported in 1970.

Infected wild animals can pass rabies to pets or livestock, which can then expose humans. A non-vaccinated pet bitten by a rabid animal will likely have to be put to sleep, noted Dr. Russ Daly, state public health veterinarian. “Rabies vaccinations for pets are widely available and not expensive,” said Dr. Daly. “Getting your pet vaccinated not only protects people, it may save the life of your pet as well.”

Dr. Daly said rabies vaccination should also be considered for other animals such as horses and show animals that have frequent contact with people.

Individuals can also reduce the risk of rabies with these precautions:

• Do not handle, adopt or attempt to feed wild animals. Teach children to avoid animals they don't know and to tell you immediately if they are bitten or scratched by any animal.
• Avoid any animal, wild or domestic, that behaves strangely and immediately report it to your local veterinarian, animal control or law enforcement office.
• Do not handle dead, sick or injured animals. If you must, use heavy gloves, sticks, or other tools to avoid direct contact. Wear gloves and protective eyewear when treating a sick animal
• Prevent exposure to saliva.
• Close outdoor trash containers tightly to avoid attracting skunks and raccoons.
• Clear wood or junk piles from homes to deter wild animals from moving in.
• Do not handle bats. If bats are found in a room with children or sleeping people, call the department of Health, your physician or local animal control officer.

Contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect rabies in a wild animal, pet or livestock, or if your animal has been bitten by a possibly rabid animal. If you have a potential exposure to rabies, wash the affected area with soap and water right away and call your doctor or the Department of Health at 1-800-592-1861. Contact your veterinarian for instructions on how to handle the animal. If the animal is dead, save the carcass for testing, being careful not to damage the head. If it is alive, contact your local animal control authorities so it can be captured for examination or observation. If you are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, rabies vaccination can prevent human disease.

Woman Exposed to Rabies from Wild Cat

An Oconee County woman is under a physician's care after being exposed to rabies in the Seneca area by a cat that tested positive for the disease, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Friday [3 Jan 2014]. Wild Cats have been found with rabies in both South Carolina And Georgia

Health officials recommend that people avoid wild animals acting tame and tame animals acting wild to reduce their risk of being exposed to the disease.

Officials said state law requires pet owners to have their pets regularly vaccinated against

10/18/2013 Daily Health News, Rabies Kills 24,000, Dengue Fever in Houston, Flu, New Hookworm Vaccine, Legionnaires' Disease

Rabies Kills 24,000 a Year in Africa Because Vaccine Costly

Rabies kills 24,000 people a year in Africa, most of them children, because many on the world's poorest continent cannot afford the cost of the vaccine, experts said. Africa is home to nearly half the 55,000 people around the world who die each year from rabies, caused mainly by bites from dogs.continue reading

Dengue Virus Identified in Houston

Dengue fever, a virulent tropical disease thought to be eradicated from the United States in the 1950s, has re-emerged in Houston, according to a new study. Baylor College of Medicine scientists are reporting the mosquito-borne virus has recently been transmitted in Houston, the first evidence the disease so prevalent in the developing world has spread to a major U.S. city in large numbers. http://www.chron.com/

High-Dose Flu Vaccine Better for Frail Elderly

Among the frail elderly in long-term care, a high-dose influenza vaccine improved antibody responses compared with standard vaccines, a researcher said. In a randomized, single-blind trial over two flu seasons, the higher dose gave superior responses to four out of five strains contained in the vaccines, http://www.medpagetoday.com/

Hookworm Vaccine Will Be Tried in Africa

Dr. Peter J. Hotez, director of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, explained that the vaccine creates antibodies not against the parasites themselves but against two enzymes found in the worm’s own gut — one that detoxifies the iron in its blood diet, and another that digests blood proteins. Without those enzymes the worm slowly dies. The trial will start on a few adults in Gabon, and children will eventually be enrolled.”continue reading

Legionnaires' illnesses seen in Ala nursing home

ATLANTA — An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease appears to be centered at a northwest Alabama nursing home.However, the source of the outbreak is still under investigation, a state health official said Wednesday.

Eleven lab-confirmed cases have been seen in the Florence area since the outbreak was detected this month. Another eight pneumonia illnesses are being investigated as possibly also Legionnaires'.Continue Reading