b'MEDICAL ADVICEDont Fall for These Common Rabies Mythsby DR. ALISON YOUNG-TANR abiesisasevereviraldiseasethatdeathsarereportedeachyear,threeoutsymptoms begin. tch doesnt require affectsthecentralnervoussystemofoffourAmericansdoliveincommunitiesMYTH 7: A small scra mammals, including humans. It is one ofwhere wildlife carry rabies.rabies vaccination.the oldest diseases known to man with itsMYTH 3: Indoor pets dont need rabies FACT:Rabiesspreadsthroughsaliva,and presence being recorded by several ancientvaccinations.civilizations. The longstanding existence ofevenminorscratchesorsmallbreaksin rabiesthroughthehistoryofhumankindFACT: Even indoor pets should be vaccinated.theskincanposeariskifcontaminated speakstotheseverityandfatalityoftheBatscanenterhomesunnoticed,andwithsalivafromaninfectedanimal.Any disease.accidentalescapeshappen.Vaccinationispotential exposure should be evaluated by a not only a legal requirement in many areas,healthcare professional.Ancient civilizations perceived rabies throughbut it is also the best protection against a superstitionandmyth.However,despitefatal disease. MYTH 8:You should wait to see if modern advancements, myths and miscon- symptoms develop before taking ceptions about rabies continue to persist.MYTH 4: You can tell immediately if anaction.animal has rabies after it bites. FACT:Ifyoususpectananimalmayhave TheDepartmentofHealthinPolkCountyFACT: There is no way to determine instantly (DOH-Polk)wouldliketodispelafewrabies, or if your pet or a person has been misconceptionsaboutrabiessothatourwhether an animal has rabies just by lookingbitten, scratched, or exposed to saliva from community is armed against this disease.atit.Inanimals,confirmationrequiresapotentiallyrabidanimal,youshouldact laboratorytestingofbraintissue,whichimmediately.Here are some common myths, along withcan only be done after death. A seemingly the truth behind them. healthy animal may still be infectious. If someone is bitten or scratched by a wild MYTH 1: Only wild animals like raccoonsor domestic animal, they should:MYTH 5: Rabies can be diagnosed beforeScrub the wound with soap and wateror bats carry rabies. symptoms appear in humans. Seek medical attention immediately. FACT:Whilewildanimalssuchasbats,FACT: There is no reliable test to detect rabies raccoons,skunks,andfoxesarecommon Theincidentshouldalsobereportedto in humans before symptoms develop. This is carriersintheUnitedStates,rabiescanwhy post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), whichPolkCountyAnimalControlat863-577-infect any mammal including dogs, cats, andis a series of vaccines given after a possible1762 and theyll ask for a description of the livestock. Unvaccinated domestic pets canexposure,iscriticalandhighlyeffectiveifanimal.contract and transmit rabies if exposed. administered promptly.Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptomsMYTH 2: Rabies has been eradicated inappear, but it is preventable with prompt MYTH 6: Rabies can be cured oncethe United States. symptoms appear. post-exposure treatment. FACT: Around 4,000 animal rabies cases areFACT:Onceclinicalsymptomsdevelop,If your pet has been attacked by a wild or reported each year in the United States, withrabiesisalmostalwaysfatal.Thisiswhyunvaccinatedanimal,washitwithsoap, more than 90% occurring in wildlife like bats,immediate medical attention after a potentialkeep it away from others, contact your pets raccoons, skunks, and foxes. While rabies isexposure is essential. Rabies is preventableveterinarian, and report the exposure to Polk rare in humans and fewer than 10 humanwith timely treatment, but not curable afterCounty Animal Control at 863-577-1762. HNAbout the author: Dr. Alison Young-Tan, an internal medicine/pediatrics physician, currently serves the community as medical director for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk).20 | CFHN centralfloridahealthnews.com'