Agenda - 05-14-1996 - X-B - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

f 5 experiment of trapping and vaccinating wildlife across the base of Animal Bites, is available for free from the Division of of a peninsula has been tried to stop the advance of the disease Epidemiology (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687). in a raccoon population.Despite a large investment of time and This booklet gives dosage and schedule regimens for both pre- money, the rabies virus jumped this human-trade barrier. exposure and post-exposure rabies vaccination.In addition,it Trapping and shooting wildlife to lower population levels have discusses how to determine when vaccination is appropriate, been tried and found ineffective(probably because such meth- the potential sequelae and contraindications of vaccination,and ods would also have to preventthe in-migration ofwildlife from names and telephone numbers of Division staff who can help. surrounding areas).Damaging an area's ecology by decimation The NC DEHNR maintains a stock of rabies vaccine and of wildlife may have serious and unintended consequences. rabies-immune globulin for sale to physicians, pharmacies, A potential method of controlling the spread of the rabies hospitals,and health departments at cost on a non-exchange, virus is on the horizon.Wildlife can be given a bait containing non-return basis.Orders may be made through the Division of an active,genetically engineered, live vaccinia vitas that in- Epidemiology. Rabies vaccine and rabies-immune globulin eludes genetic material coding for an external rabies protein. may also be available through local and regional hospitals at This method has been used in Europe to control rabies virus in comparable prices.Referral of patients to such hospitals may be foxes, and it holds much promise. Briefly, genetic material indicated when treatment should be started immediately. coding for an external protein of the rabies virus is inserted into There are many ways in which to mitigate the rabies risk in the DNA of the vaccinia virus.This new virus,which is alive but areas experiencing an epidemic. First, we must teach our altered from its original form,is placed into bait attractive to children not to approach unknown animals, even those not raccoons and distributed throughout the targetarea.Thevaccinia showing signs of disease.Normal-appearing animals may have virus enters the raccoon through its tonsils.The virus infects the saliva capable of transmitting disease.Second,we mustchange host,producing a rabies protein in addition to more vaccinia certain habits that attract wild animals into our living space. virus.The host,in turn,produces antibodies against the vaccinia Watching raccoons feeding in the backyard may be educational virus and the rabies protein.The genetically engineered vaccinia to our children and ourselves,but those raccoons pose a threat virus cannot produce rabies but can imm unite the host to rabies. to our health and the health of our pets.Dog or cat food should Laboratory data suggest that horizontal and vertical transmis- not be left outside at night because it may attract wildlife. sion may occur during the first few hours after immunization. Garbage cans should have tightly fitting lids or have cords Oral baiting has limitations. It is designed to protect a across the lids to keep them securely fastened.Third--and one specific area such as a peninsula or camp.It is too expensive and of the most important things we can do to protect our families— labor intensive to be used to eradicate rabies in an entire state or is to have our pets vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination is even most counties.No vaccine is 100%effective and this one required by law, but many people neglect to do it until the is not expected to be any different.It is intended to immunize epidemic is upon them.By then it may be too late.Eight rabid a population of animals and slow or stop the epidemic spread of cats and two rabid dogs were identified in North Carolina in rabies.It is a public health measure,not an individual veterinary 1993.themost pets in one yearsince 1959.Noneof these 10pets medical procedure. had been vaccinated.It has been my experience that,for every case of rabies in a pet, six people are forced to undergo antirabies vaccination. Help for Health Professionals Determining whether people need post-exposure rabies vacci- A Last Word nation is difficult because of the large number of variables involved:the species of animal,circumstances of the bite,the To summarize: the calm before the rabies storm has ended. epidemiology of the disease.Help in making such decisions is Three epidemics of rabies have entered the state and spread available from the schools of medicine throughout the state, from their point of entry.These events mean a large investment local health departments,and the North Carolina Department of of time and money by state and local health departments to Environment,Health,and Natural Resources(DEHNR),Divi- prevent human and pet animal cases of rabies.Since control of sion of Epidemiology. Assistance is available during normal the disease in the wildlife population poses many challenges, working hours from the Division of Epidemiology(919[733- the medical community will see increased demands on its time 3410),and during evening hours,weekends,and holidays by and expertise in hopes of preventing human rabies.The expe- calling a beeper-voice mailbox(9191733-3419). rience of our neighboring states shows that problem of rabies A booklet written for medical professionals,Management will affect all of our citizens regardless of social strata. ❑ Reference orally absorbed vaccine to control rabies in raccoons.J Amer Vet 1 Uhaa 13.Dato VM.Sorhage FE,et al.Benefits and costs of using an Med Association 1992;201:1373-82. 16 NCM3 I January 1096.Volume 57 Number 1