Spreading of Rabies
Rabies is a very serious disease that if not treated properly or on time it can be extremely deadly to the person or animals that contracts it. Rabies is now making a comeback to 2023 in places like Charleston County, Saluda County, and Gaston County all located in South Carolina. Additionally, the spreading of the disease is reported to have started through infected raccoons in the counties.
More than one cases has already been reported among the Counties mentioned above and people are starting to get infected or at the minimum they are at risk of being infected by this deadly disease.
In fact, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control (DHEC) has gotten involve and they have confirmed two raccoons from two different counties have testing positive for rabies. The raccoons taken in for testing where examine at the laboratory on Sept. 2, 2023 and on Sept. 5, 2023 they were confirmed to have rabies. Regardless of the rabies confirmation, this are not the only occurrences that have taken places thus far.
Cases Reported
One of the raccoons that tested positive for rabies was located near Wade Hampton Drive and Robert E Lee Boulevard in Charleston South Carolina. Unfortunately, one person was exposed to rabies through this raccoon and was immediately rushed to their health care provider.
Furthermore, the second raccoon that tested positive for rabies was located near Denny Highway and Joe Black Road in Prosperity South Carolina. At the moment no person has been exposed in that area. However, one dog has tested positive for the disease and has since then been quarantined as it is required by the Carolina Rabies Control Act.
As of right now, 56 cases of rabies statewide have already been reported. And since 2002, South Carolina averages an amount of 148 positives cases of rabies a year. Eighty three cases of rabies where in fact confirmed in 2022, three cases where in Charleston County and another three came from Saluda County.
Rabies Location
Rabies is a disease that people can more commonly be found in wildlife, with animals being the main carriers. As a matter of fact, rabies is mainly found in animals likes raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. However, house pets are susceptible to the virus if people do not take the right precautions.
For this reasons, it it vital that if anyone notices a wild animal in need, do not approach it or touch it as it can jeopardies their life. Please take every safety precaution possible and contact a professional and someone trained in dealing with wild animals.
Scary Truth
What is rabies? Rabies is one of the scariest disease in the world and should not be taken lightly. Rabies starts when a person makes contact with and animal infected with this disease. After the exposure, symptoms start to appear during the incubation period. Which varies depending on how far the bite is from the brain. The signs and symptoms of rabies include:
- Flu.
- Weakness or discomfort.
- Fever or headache.
- Itching sensation at the site of the bite.
As the most common symptoms end and the disease keeps progressing, people start to experience cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. Many individuals may also experience delirium, unusual behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia.
It is important to acknowledge that once a person is exposed, the disease is almost always fatal. For this reason, it takes two to 10 days for this disease to finish with a persons life.
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
The News: Rabid Raccoons confirmed in Charleston County and Saluda County; one pet exposed
3WBTV: Raccoon tests positive for rabies in Gaston county, marks county’s third case in 2023
LIVE5WCSC: DHEC confirms rabid raccoon exposure in Charleston County
CDC: What are the signs and symptoms of rabies?
Featured Image Courtesy of Sarah Sapp Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Images Courtesy of Focal Foto Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
