Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 28 Sep 2024
Minnesota Reports Rare Human Death From Rabies; Know All About This Deadly Virus
The woman's death is a rare occurrence as less than ten people in the US die from this deadly virus
A resident of Minnesota, who recently came into contact with a bat, has died of rabies, the state's health department has announced. According to the authorities, the woman – whose identity was not revealed, began showing the symptoms recently. Her death is a rare occurrence as less than ten people in the US die from this deadly virus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
According to the health department, a woman – over the age of 65 years, was exposed to the bat in July. State health officials and the CDC have confirmed the diagnosis of rabies from lab testing in Atlanta. Health department officials said they have been working to evaluate whether more people were exposed to the viral disease - which affects the brain and spinal cord and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
As of now, officials say there is no ongoing risk to the public. However, they have advised the public to avoid contact with bats, whose teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.
What is rabies?
Experts say you can get rabies illness from an infection with the RABV virus which is common through bat or dog bites. According to doctors, rabies is preventable if you are vaccinated quickly after exposure, but once the symptoms start, rabies is fatal. The virus gets transmitted through direct contact like skin or mucous membranes in your eyes, nose, or mouth, saliva, or brain and nervous system tissue from an infected animal.
When the virus gets into your body, the saliva of an infected animal gets into an open wound. It begins to move very slowly along nerves into your central nervous system. Experts say when it reaches your brain, the damage causes neurological symptoms There are several phases that most people go through - incubation, prodromal phase, acute neurologic phase, and coma, and from there, it leads to death.
How common is rabies in the US?
According to the CDC, around 59,000 people around the world die each year from rabies. In the US, human rabies cases are rare, fewer than three people get rabies each year.
Doctors say it happens because many people get vaccinated soon after exposure.
Signs and symptoms of rabies
Usually, there are no symptoms of rabies for a few weeks after it enters your body, but when it makes to the central nervous system, you may experience:
- High fever
- Extreme tiredness
- Itching, burning, tingling, pain, or numbness in the wound
- Cough and sore throat
- Muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Agitation and aggression
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Muscle twitching
- Hyperventilation
- Excessive salivation
- Facial paralysis
- Fear of water
- A tingling - pins and needles all over your body
- Paralysis
- Coma
Is there a way to treat rabies?
According to doctors, rabies cannot be treated once your symptoms begin. However, if you do get exposed to the virus, get a vaccination done as soon as possible. Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water. The vaccine would give you immediate protection.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.