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When Rabies Can Kill: Watch for These Signals

July 09, 2018

When most people think of rabies, they think of the awful disease that turned a loving family dog like Old Yeller into a vicious animal like Cujo.

But outside of Hollywood, how much do you actually know about rabies and how this disease has affected residents in their own backyard?

In April, a feral cat attacked at least five people in a New Britain neighborhood and later tested positive for rabies. A little more than a month later, a man in Plainfield was bitten by a rabid raccoon.

With these recent incidents, state animal control and police departments are warning residents to avoid contact with stray animals and wildlife.

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the brain and spinal cord. Dr. Virginia Bieluch, chief of Infectious Diseases at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, says it is critical to seek medical attention immediately if you have any physical contact with a wild animal, even if you were not bitten.

“The disease is transmitted through the animal’s saliva to our mucous membranes, such as our eyes, nose and mouth, through an open cut or animal bite,” said Dr. Bieluch. “Saliva can be found under the animal’s claws or anywhere on the animal, so it is important to seek medical attention immediately after coming into physical contact with a wild animal.”

Initial symptoms can resemble the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with weakness, fever or headache that could last for days. The bite area also could become itchy. Within days, says the CDC, symptoms can include cerebral dysfunction, anxiety,  confusion and agitation. Eventually, the patient could experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and insomnia. The acute period ranges from two to 10 days. When clinical signs start, the disease is almost always fatal.

But a quick visit to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center can prevent a potentially fatal illness. Patients who believe they may have been exposed to rabies are given post-exposure prophylaxis treatment, which consists of a series of vaccinations for rabies, as well as a shot of Rabies Immune Globulin on the first visit. Additional vaccinations are followed up in the next two weeks, although fewer doses may be given to a patient who has received prior rabies vaccinations.

Skunks, raccoons, dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes and other mammals can transmit rabies disease, with bats being the most common source of human rabies infections in the United States.

“Bats are tricky because they can be the wildlife we come into the most contact without even knowing,” said Dr. Bieluch. “If you wake up one morning and notice a bat in your house, it could’ve bitten you or come into physical contact with you while you were sleeping.  If you could have been bitten by a bat while sleeping or have a young child or someone else in the house who might not be able to communicate a bat bite, seek urgent medical assistance.”

While most animals, wild or domestic, do not carry rabies, it is still a good idea to get any animal bite marks checked out because of other diseases animals may carry.

If you or a loved one have a concern about an animal bite, or potential rabies exposure, visit the nearest emergency department. The emergency departments at The Hospital of Central Connecticut and MidState Medical Center are equipped to handle such cases.