Medical Health Encyclopedia

Rabies is a frequently fatal, acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans by infected animals (often dogs or bats) via a bite or by the exposure of broken skin to an infected animal's saliva. In the past, human cases in the U.S. usually resulted from a dog bite, but recently, more cases of human rabies have are linked to bats and there have not been any rabies cases caused by dog bites for a number of years. Few cases occur in the US because of extensive animal vaccination programs.

Anyone who is exposed to secretions of an animal suspected of having rabies or to bats, whether or not there are indications of rabies, should be given the rabies vaccine. Exposed individuals should also receive immune globulin unless they were previously vaccinated. Veterinarians and animal handlers should be vaccinated. This does not eliminate the need for treatment if they are exposed to rabies, but it reduces the intensity of the treatment.

Side effects include pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, headache, nausea, stomach pain, muscle aches, and dizziness. Allergic response can occur after the first shot and as long as 21 days after a booster shot. Rare cases of neurologic disorders that cause pain and paralysis in the legs and arms have also been reported. These neurologic disorders usually clear up in about 12 weeks.

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Plague

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Plague is a severe, and potentially deadly, infection. It is caused by the organism Yersinia pestis. Wild rodents, like rats, spread the disease to humans.  Plague is spread among rodents by a flea bite. Humans may get the plague when they touch or eat the infected animal, or when they come in contact with its feces. Certain forms of the plague can be spread from human to human. Plague is rare in the United States, but has been known to occur in parts of California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.