Rabies death reported in western Michigan

Doctor preparing rabies vaccine
AP Photo

A man's death due to rabies caused by a bat was recently reported by Michigan District Health Department #10 officials. Health officials are not releasing the name of the victim due to privacy issues.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People get rabies from the bite of an animal with rabies. Treatment for rabies can be successful if immediate medical attention is provided, however, symptoms of infected people may not appear for several weeks or even months after exposure.

Rabies kills between 40,000 and 70,000 people each year worldwide. Rabies is almost always fatal once the virus reaches the brain and symptoms begin.

Humans exposed to rabies need to undergo a series of injections of the rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin over a period of 28 days. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in the arm. The vaccine may produce localized pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site.

Signs of rabies in animals
Agitation
Aggressiveness
Excessive drooling
Loss of fear of humans
Paralysis
Death

Symptoms of infected people
Fatigue
Fever
Headache
General malaise
Hallucinations
Delirium

If bitten by an animal
Assume the animal has rabies
Wash the wound with soap and water as soon as possible
Visit a medical facility immediately
Safely capture the offending animal if possible so it may be tested