Avoiding Rabies Exposure

September 2, 2008

September and October frequently produce the highest number of lab-confirmed rabies cases in the state, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. With that in mind, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department wants to remind the public how to protect themselves around these animals. Awareness is the best tool we have against exposure.

Rabies is transmitted when the virus (through saliva, brain or nervous system tissue) of a rabid animal is introduced into a bite wound, open cuts in skin, or onto mucous membranes such as the mouth or eyes. High-risk animals for rabies in Texas are bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.

“As long as the United States is experiencing a human rabies vaccine supply shortage, animal bite avoidance is critical,” says Dr. Philip Huang, Medical Director for Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

The typical incubation period for rabies is 4 to 6 weeks but can be much longer. During the incubation period, there are usually no symptoms of rabies. Early symptoms include pain and numbness at the site of the bite followed by vague symptoms that are often confused with those of other conditions. These include fever, cough or sore throat, pain, burning, itching, tingling or numbness at the site of the bite or original exposure, abdominal pain, anxiety or restlessness that gradually gets worse and may become extreme agitation. Later symptoms include delirium, fear of water (hydrophobia), paralysis, muscle spasms, coma, heart and/or respiratory failure. Once symptoms of rabies occur, it is almost always fatal.

Because Austin is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department offers the following tips:

• many bats enter homes, apartments and businesses through unscreened windows and opened doors—particularly when the weather is nice in the fall and spring
• bats will generally leave a building on their own, given the chance
• if you find a bat in a room, do not try to catch it (unless testing is necessary because a person or pet has been sleeping in the room while the bat was present)
• any wounds should be immediately washed and medical attention from a health care professional should be sought for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination
• to encourage a bat to leave on its own, open windows, turn the lights on, and leave the room, closing the door behind you and keeping children and pets out of the area
• check the area every few hours to see if the bat has departed—it may take up to 18 hours for a bat to leave a resting place
• if you must remove a resting bat from a room because there’s no way to avoid  contact with people or pets, wear thick leather gloves and carefully place a wide-mouthed cup, jar, or coffee can over the resting bat, slip a piece of cardboard between the opening and the resting surface, then take the container outdoors to release the bat

• NEVER HANDLE A BAT—ALIVE OR DEAD—WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!

If you or anyone you know comes in contact with a rabid animal please call the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Disease and Surveillance Unit at
972-5555 or your local health care provider.