Infectious Disease > > General Infectious Disease– Fewer than 10 individuals in the U.S. pass away from rabies each year
by Associated Press September 27, 2024
A Minnesota homeowner who entered contact with a bat in July passed away of rabies, the state’s department of health revealed Friday.
The individual’s death marks an uncommon event, as less than 10 individuals in the U.S. pass away from rabies each year, according to the CDC. The individual is over the age of 65 and was exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July, the Minnesota Department of Health stated.
CDC authorities validated the rabies medical diagnosis at its laboratory in Atlanta on Sept. 20. In a press release, the state health department stated it was working to assess whether more individuals were exposed to the illness, however stated there was no continuous danger to the general public.
Authorities recommended the general public to prevent contact with bats, whose teeth are so small that a bite might not be felt and even leave a visible mark.
Rabies is brought on by an infection that gets into the main nerve system and is generally deadly in animals and human beings. If left without treatment, rabies is generally deadly. Rabies treatment has actually shown to be almost extremely efficient at avoiding the illness after a direct exposure, state health authorities stated. Treatment needs to be begun before signs of rabies appear, they included.
Stacy Holzbauer, DVM, MPH, the state’s public health vet, likewise recommended individuals to get their home family pets and animals inoculated versus rabies.
The variety of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. has actually decreased from more than 100 yearly in the early 1900s to less than 5 cases every year recently, the health department stated. About 70% of infections obtained in the nation are credited to bat direct exposures.