North Central Health District

COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

Rabies Control

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Rabies Control

Wild Animals are Not Your Friends

The goal of the Rabies Control Program is to minimize the spread of the rabies virus in the human population. The EH Section conducts investigations and provides technical assistance to private physicians, veterinarians, hospital emergency rooms, and local animal control shelters by following the Rabies Control Law, O.C.G.A. 31-19. The EH section coordinates specimen testing with the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. Any animal suspected of having rabies should be reported to your local health department.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that can be carried by mammals, usually occurring in wild animals. The virus can be transmitted through an infected animal’s saliva through a bite, but in rare cases, rabies can spread from infectious material coming in contact with mucus membranes like eyes, the nose or mouth or an open wound. Once it enters the body, rabies attacks the brain causing encephalopaty and death.

Symptoms of Rabies

There is a misconception that a rabid animal can be identified  easily because the drool and foam at the mouth. This may never occur in an infected animal or may only occur at the late stages of the disease. Any abnormal-acting animal, whether a wild animal, a pet or farm animal, should be suspected of having rabies. Infected animals may stagger, have difficulty walking, appear restless, act aggressive or overly-friendly or appear to be choking. Any animal suspected of having rabies should be reported to your local health department.

Early symptoms in humans may include fever, headache and tiredness. As the disease progresses, signs of anxiety, insomnia, confusion, excitement, hallucinations, agitation, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, hypersalivation and hydrophobia (fear of water) may appear. Death usually occurs within days of the appearance of these symptoms.

Rabies Treatment

There is no known, effective cure or treatment for rabies once symptoms have developed. Rabies can be prevented in humans if medical treatment is sought soon after an exposure to the virus. Untreated, rabies is always deadly.

What to do if You Think You’ve Been Exposed to Rabies

Immediately clean the area with soap and water to reduce the likelihood of rabies transmission. Call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Your doctor can consult with the Georgia Poison Center (800-282-5846 statewide) to decide proper treatment options. Always provide your healthcare provider with the following information:

  • Type of animal involved (pet or wild animal)
  • Provoked (teased, startled, run past, etc.) or unprovoked attack
  • Type of exposure (cut, scratch, licking of an open wound), part of the body, number of exposures
  • Animal’s vaccination status (does not apply to wild animals)
  • Sick or well animal, type of symptoms
  • Animal available/not available for testing or quarantine

Contact Your Local Environmental Health Office

Call your nearest health department to ask questions or to report any suspicious animals.

 

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