The symptoms of rabies in humans include irritability, headache, pain, itching or a twitching at the infection site, and fever. As the disease progresses, muscle spasms in the throat and respiratory tract affect breathing, and the sufferer may have difficulty swallowing, the combination of which can produce the trademark “foaming at the mouth”. Further symptoms of rabies as it progresses are hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, and eventually death.

Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the central nervous system in warm-blooded animals. The rabies virus can be transmitted to humans when an infected animal’s saliva comes into contact with broken skin, such as with a bite or scratch. Rabies has been a noted disease for thousands of years, but is rare in advanced civilizations today. In the United States, there have been only a few dozen cases of humans infected with rabies since 1990.

Wild animals most commonly found to carry rabies in the United States are raccoons, followed by bats, skunks, and foxes. An estimated 85% of animal rabies cases in the US are attributed to wildlife. In domestic animals and livestock, cats are the most commonly infected animals, though dogs tend to be responsible for more bites. However, bats are responsible for well over half of the cases of rabies transmitted to humans in the US.

Rabies is a very serious viral infection, and once the symptoms of rabies have developed, the disease is fatal. However, it is a completely preventable disease if proper medical attention is sought for any circumstance that is suspect. If a person has been bitten by either a wild animal or a domestic animal without proof of vaccination, he or she should cleanse the bite with soap and water immediately and then seek medical attention.

The incubation period for rabies varies greatly, and signs or symptoms may develop within a week or may take months. It is important to understand that once the symptoms of rabies have developed, there is no treatment or cure. Suspect rabies cases and bite victims can be given preventative treatment if it is administered before the first sign or symptom.

If you see an animal acting strangely or confused, or if you see a nocturnal animal, especially a bat or fox, out during the day, call your local wildlife division. Do not attempt to approach or capture the animal; simply report it to the proper authorities.