Key takeaways:
- Rabies is very serious, but it is very rare in humans.
- Ohio’s last case of rabies in a human was more than 50 years ago.
- Getting preventive treatment quickly after possible rabies exposure is extremely important.
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News reports about bats having rabies in an area near you might sound alarming. You may have even heard some outrageous stories of human-bat encounters and wondered how true they are. It’s important to understand that while rabies is very serious, it is also very rare in humans in the United States.
In fact, the last reported case of rabies in a human in Ohio was in 1970. Even still, you should brush up on your knowledge of rabies since bats and other mammals can carry the disease.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a deadly disease that affects the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) in mammals, including humans. It comes from a virus that lives in the saliva of an infected animal.
Bites are the most common way that rabies is transmitted. But someone can get rabies without being bitten. Any direct transmission of infected saliva can pass the disease along, including if you are scratched by an animal carrying rabies.
What animals most commonly carry rabies?
In the U.S., bats most commonly carry rabies. Other wild animals can also carry the disease, such as skunks, foxes, raccoons and mongooses. Rodents (such as squirrels) tend not to carry rabies.
Dogs once were a carrier of rabies, but thanks to required rabies vaccinations, rabies in dogs has not been seen in the U.S. since 2007. Dogs in some countries outside of the United States may still carry rabies. It’s important to consider that before traveling; you can talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated before any travel to high-risk areas.
How worried should parents be about rabies?
When local health departments issue an alert about bats with rabies, take it as a reminder to talk with your kids about proper behavior around wild animals. Rabies is one of the deadliest infections known, but human cases in the U.S. occur only rarely because potential exposures are usually recognized and treated.
Treatment for rabies is called post-exposure prophylaxis. When it is given soon after a rabies exposure, it is 100% effective.
What should someone do if they might have been exposed to rabies?
If you or your child might have been exposed to rabies:
- Go see a doctor within the first 24 hours after exposure if possible. They will do an assessment by asking about the details of the exposure to determine if treatment is needed.
- If an animal bite was involved, report it to your local health department. (Sometimes the doctor’s office or hospital will do this for you.)
What are some examples of exposures that you would want to get checked out?
- If you wake up and a bat is in your bedroom. Bat bites are extremely small, and it’s possible a bite could have occurred without your knowing it.
- If there has been an animal exposure and the animal was displaying ill behavior. For example, your child touches a bat on the ground at the park. Bats typically don’t rest on the ground, so this is an exposure you would want to see a doctor about.
- If someone was bitten, scratched or came in contact with oral secretions of a wild animal.
If you know your child has had an animal bite or scratch, wash it with a lot of soap and water as soon as possible.
What you can do to help prevent rabies in kids
To reduce the chances of someone in your family being exposed to rabies, follow these tips.
Teach your kids:
- Never touch bats or other wild animals.
- Tell an adult right away if they find an animal that seems sick, injured or dead.
- Report any contact with a bat, even if they don’t think they were bitten.
At home:
- Prevent bats from entering living spaces.
- Keep window screens in good repair.
- Contact professionals if bats are found indoors.
- Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations.
- Keep pet food indoors to reduce the risk of having wild animals near your home.
If a bat is found indoors:
- Safely contain it if possible.
- Contact your local public health department.
- Do not release it until public health officials advise you.
The next time you hear about a case of rabies in a bat, don’t be alarmed, but be vigilant. While more people are being checked for possible rabies exposure, human rabies cases remain extremely rare. The most important action you can take to keep your family safe is to avoid contact with wild animals and seek medical attention as soon as possible after a possible exposure.
And remember, it’s not all doom and gloom. Bats play an important role in our ecosystem by eating insects and pollinating plants!
