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Rabies

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Rabies

Rabies is a deadly but preventable viral disease. Most rabies cases are in wildlife, including bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Rabies can spread to people and pets through an infected, or rabid, animal’s bites or scratches. The virus infects the central nervous system causing brain disease and then death.

There are about 60 animal rabies cases reported each year in Michigan. About 90% of Michigan rabies infections are in bats. Human deaths from rabies are rare in the U.S. Most cases occur when people do not seek quick medical care following possible exposure. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. was more than 100 per year until the 1960’s. Today, there are 1-2 rabies deaths per year in the U.S.1 The decrease is related to pet vaccination, animal control programs, public health surveillance and testing, and development of effective treatments.1

Rabies data are available on the MiTracking data portal.

  • Rabies infects warm-blooded animals. The virus is found in a rabid animal’s saliva or brain tissue. Rabies spreads when the virus enters a new host’s body. Most exposures fall under two categories, bite and non-bite1:

    Bite Exposure:

    Bite exposures are any penetration (breaking or tearing) of the skin by teeth. 

    Non-bite exposure:

    Non-bite exposures happen when rabies virus comes in contact with:

    • Open wounds or cuts in skin.
    • Mucous membranes (eyes, nose, and mouth).

    Non-bite exposures rarely cause the spread of rabies.

    For more information, visit Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (EZID) - Rabies.

  • Bats1,2

    Bats are the most common animal to have rabies in Michigan. Bats can have rabies without showing any symptoms.

    Bat bites can be small and hard to see. The following should be reported to the local health department:

    • Bat bites or scratches (reporting bites is required by Michigan Law).
    • A bat found in a room with a sleeping person, impaired person, or very young person.
    • Any direct contact with a bat where the possibility of a bite or scratch cannot be ruled out.

    If possible, save the bat for testing. Testing of animals that may have exposed people is available 7 days a week. Call your local health department for more information. If the bat tests positive or is not available for testing, then the exposed person may need post-exposure (after exposure) treatment.1

    Skunks1,2

    In southeast Michigan, there is a rabies strain that skunks spread.3 This means that there is a greater chance of animal rabies in that part of the state. The chance is higher there of an unvaccinated pet or wild animal coming in contact with a rabid skunk. That infected pet or wild animal could then pass rabies on to another animal or human. 

    For more information, visit EZID - Rabies.

  • Humans1,2

    Human rabies in the United States is very rare. Rabies is 100% preventable through quick treatment to prevent infection after an exposure. DO NOT wait for symptoms before seeking medical care. People who do not get treatment quickly following an exposure can eventually develop rabies illness. At that point, rabies treatment is no longer helpful in preventing death. The disease is often fatal at this stage. If you have been exposed to rabies, get treatment right away.

    Early Rabies Symptoms

    Early rabies symptoms are typical of many viral infections and may last for days. Early rabies symptoms include:

    • Fever.
    • Headache.
    • Weakness.
    Rabies Symptoms

    New symptoms may develop as rabies infects the brain. Rabies symptoms may include:

    • Agitation.
    • Anxiety.
    • Confusion.
    • Difficulty sleeping.
    • Difficulty swallowing.
    • Hallucinations.
    • Hydrophobia (fear of water).
    • Partial paralysis.

    Animals1,2

    Early Rabies Symptoms

    Rabies disease in animals is like the disease in people. The first symptoms may include:

    • Fever.
    • Lack of appetite.
    • Lethargy.
    • Vomiting.
    Rabies Symptoms

    Within days, brain illness symptoms happen and may include:

    • Abnormal behavior.
    • Aggression.
    • Difficulty swallowing/excessive salivation.
    • Difficulty walking.
    • Paralysis.
    • Seizures.
    • Weakness.

    For more information, visit EZID - Rabies.

  • Humans3

    Consult a healthcare provider after a rabies exposure. The provider will determine if rabies is a concern. The provider will collect information about the animal (for example, what type of animal was it, how was it behaving) and how the exposure happened. Treatment of the exposed person can wait if the animal is available for observation or testing. Contact your local health department for rabies testing information.

    Rabies post-exposure (after) treatment, when given correctly, is 100% effective at preventing illness and death. Typical rabies treatment is a series of shots over two weeks.

    Animals3

    Vaccinate pets and livestock to prevent rabies. Talk with your veterinarian right away if you think your animal has been exposed to rabies.

    For more information, visit CDC - Rabies Vaccine Recommendations.

  • Humans: Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals1,2

    • Prevent bats from entering places where people work and live.
    • Leave wildlife alone. Do not approach, handle, feed, or attract wild animals with food, open garbage cans, or litter. Keep garbage can lids tight.
    • Do not attempt to capture or feed feral cats.
    • NEVER adopt wild animals or bring them into your house.
    • Teach children NEVER to handle unfamiliar animals.
    • If bitten or scratched, wash any wounds immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.
    • If possible, collect the animal for observation or testing. Take care to protect yourself from additional bites or scratches.
    • Report the bite to your local health department.

    Animals: Be a responsible pet owner1,2

    • Vaccinate your pets to protect them and your family from rabies. Michigan law requires dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated for rabies.
    • Do not keep wild animals or exotic animals as pets.
    • Keep your pets under direct supervision.
    • Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.
    • Spay or neuter your pets.

    For more information, visit EZID - Rabies.

  • MiTracking Indicators

    • Number of animals tested for rabies at MDHHS
    • Number of animals that tested positive for rabies

    MiTracking Data Can Tell Us

    • The number of animals submitted for rabies testing by year, county, and species.
    • How the number of rabies-positive animals changes over time and location.
    • Species of animals responsible for rabies exposures in Michigan.

    MiTracking Data Cannot Tell Us

    • The true number or location of wild animals that have rabies each year.
    • The true percentage of rabid animals in a particular species population.
    • The type of exposures (known bites vs. other) that caused these animals to be submitted for testing.

    Find Out More

    This dataset was created from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories StarLIMS system, which tracks animals submitted to MDHHS for rabies testing. MDHHS is the only laboratory in Michigan which tests animals which are suspected to have exposed humans or unvaccinated domestic pets to rabies.

    For additional data information, visit:

      1. CDC. Rabies in the US: public health importance of rabies. The Public Health Importance of Rabies: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/index.html. Accessed September 23, 2022.
      2. Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease (EZID). Emerging disease issues: rabies. MDHHS website. www.michigan.gov/rabies. Accessed September 23, 2022.
      3. Manning SE, Rupprecht CE, Fishbein D, et al. Human Rabies Prevention — United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recommendations and reports. 2008;57(RR-3):1-27. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5703a1.htm. Accessed September 23, 2022.