| The following information is taken from
the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Rabies web page. Please visit the CDC for more information. |
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Rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus.
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Each year, rabies kills more than 50,000 people and
millions of animals around the world. |
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Rabies is a big problem in Asia, Africa, and Central and
South America. |
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In the United States, rabies has been reported in every
state except Hawaii. |
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Any mammal can get rabies. Raccoons, skunks, foxes,
bats, dogs, and cats can get rabies. Cattle and humans can also get
rabies. |
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Only mammals can get rabies. Animals that are not
mammals -- such as birds, snakes, and fish -- do not get rabies. |
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An animal gets rabies from saliva, usually from a bite of
an animal that has the disease. |
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You cannot get rabies from blood. |
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Animals with rabies may act differently from healthy animals. Wild
animals may move slowly or may act as if they are tame. A pet that
is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Some signs
of rabies in animals are:
- changes in an animal's behavior
- general sickness
- problems swallowing
- increased drooling
- aggression
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Rabies can be prevented by rabies vaccine and thorough
cleaning of the wound. If you are bitten by an animal that could
have rabies, clean the bite wound right away with soap and water and go to
see a doctor. |
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