The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

October, 1951The Health BulletinThis attitude makes a community "ripe"for a rabies epidemic. We know, fromexperience with the various epidemicdiseases of both men and animals, that,in order to be successful in preventinga disease, by vaccination, from assumingepidemic proportions, there mustbe at least 80 per cent of the susceptibledogs vaccinated against the disease. Itis rather difficult for the local healthdepartments to accomplish this highpercentage of vaccinations of dogs,especially since the vaccination mustbe repeated each year. Unfortunately, atthe present time, we do not have arabies vaccine for dogs that will giveprotection against the disease for longerthan one year, but research is beingconducted in this field.It should be emphasized that whenthe public develops a lack of interest Inrabies programs because the danger isnot immediate, there can be only oneresult: the dog population in that areabecomes highly susceptible to rabies, becauseof its lack of immunity, throughannual vaccination. In such instances,the infection only needs to be introducedby one or two rabid animals fromother areas to start a vicious epidemic.Because the public has not alwaysbeen properly informed regarding rabies,there is a great need for accurateinformation as to the procediure tofollow in disposing of dogs that havebitten humans. This is paramount, ifthey are to avoid a lot of needlessantirabic treatment. A dog that hasbitten a person should never be killed,but should be placed in a secure penwith plenty of food and water. If possible,it should be placed in the handsof a veterinarian for observation. Itshould be observed for 21 days and, ifalive at the end of 14 days, the animalmay be considered as being not infectedwith rabies. Most animals that bite aperson while showing symptoms of rabieswill die within 4 to 6 days afterbiting. In case it is impossible to capturea dog alive, it should never be shotthrough the head, because this maymake examination of the brain forrabies impossible at the State Laboratoryof Hygiene. If a person has themisfortune to be bitten by a dog orother animal suspected of having rabies,he should first wash bite woimd withsoap and warm, running water andthen consult his physician or healthdepartment immediately for advice regardingcare of the wound and obtainingantirabic vaccine treatment. Whena dog that has bitten a person getsaway, it is usually necessary to assvimethat the dog was rabid and to have theanti - rabies treatment administered.The decision must be made by the attendingphysician as to whether or notthe treatment is given in such cases.Rabies Control MeasuresTheie are three simple measureswhich, If properly carried out, willadequately control rabies. The first isthat of annual anti-rabies vaccinationof all dogs. The importance andvalue of this measure has been provedbeyond all doubt. This measure is a"must" In a rabies control program.The second measure is the impoundmentof all ownerless and stray dogs.It is these dogs that will not be vaccinated,and very often it is the straydog that is responsible for the spreadof rabies. This measure requires theoperation of a hiunane shelter wherethe stray dogs are kept for a specifiedperiod of time and where, if they areunclaimed at the end of that period,they are humanely destroyed.The third measure is registration ofall dogs. This measure has its importance,in that is establishes responsibilityfor dog ownership, assures anaccurate dog census, and identifies unwantedstrays.Although the dog is the most importantanimal to consider in any rabiescontrol program, there are several otheranimals, including wild animals, thatare important in the spread of rabies.Rabies in foxes has become very importantin some of the southeasternstates where regions have become overpopulatedwith foxes. Foxes transmitrabies by biting cattle in these areas,resulting in a great economic loss to thefarmer. Rabies in foxes also presents aproblem in the control of the diseasein dogs, since infection in the wild life