Take the Rabies Quiz
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often passed on through a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the CDC each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
3. In which animal is rabies more likely to be found?
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Before 1960, most rabies cases were found in domestic animals, such as the dog or cat. But with the rabies vaccine now required for pets and livestock, most rabies animal cases today are found in wild animals. It is found most often in raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Rarely it is found in rabbits, squirrels, rats, and opossums, although it is becoming more common in groundhogs. Raccoons are a concern because they often interact with household pets.
6. Which of these is an early symptom of rabies?
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Other early symptoms include headache, fever, tiredness, sore throat, loss of appetite, stiff muscles, dilation of the eyes, increased saliva production, and unusual sensitivity to sound, light and, changes of temperature. As the disease progresses, convulsions are common, and the person may have severe throat spasms when trying to swallow. The disease continues to progress for about a week, until the person dies, usually of respiratory failure.
8. How soon after a potentially infectious bite should a person be treated for rabies?
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The first stage in treatment is an injection of antibodies, called human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a rabies vaccine shot. The shot helps the body start making its own antibodies to the virus. Ideally, the HRIG and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given on the same day as the possible exposure. Even if the delay is longer than that, the person should still be given treatment. The rabies shot is given on days 3, 7, and 14. Half of the HRIG is injected around the bite site, with the remainder in the upper arm muscle. Side effects of the vaccine may include swelling or redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches and dizziness. Treatment for rabies must begin soon after exposure, because once symptoms appear, nothing can be done to stop the progression of the disease.
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