Chatham-Kent’s top doctor is raising awareness about the dangers of rabies and the importance of seeking treatment if bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
During a CK Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai made a presentation on how effective the rabies vaccine is at preventing the serious disease if treatment is sought quickly.
“Rabies vaccine treatment is tougher and faster than the rabies virus. With proper, timely administration, the vaccine treatment can beat rabies almost every time,” he said.
According Nesathurai, Chatham-Kent Public Health investigates roughly 350 animal bites each year. Health officials provide the rabies vaccine to anyone who has been exposed at no charge.
While death from rabies in North America is almost unheard of because of fast-acting vaccines, those who do not seek immediate treatment will develop symptoms and likely die.
“Exposure to rabies in the time before treatment resulted in death. Today, no one has to die of rabies,” said Nesathurai. “With timely treatment, rabies exposures are entirely manageable.”
Rabies is caused by a virus that infects the brains of warm-blooded animals. It is carried in saliva of an infected animal and can spread to people through a bite or scratch that breaks the skin
Rabies is regularly found in bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes and other wild animals.
Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal is urged to report it to CK Public Health. Health officials will investigate all possible exposures, provide advice and administer the rabies vaccine when needed.
For more information about rabies, visit the CK Public Health website by clicking here.