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Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
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Rabies
Rabies remains a significant public health concern. If a person is bitten by a rabid animal, they can be given a series of shots within a few days of the bite as a prevention measure, but if the shots are not given and symptoms appear there is no cure - the result is nearly always death. Click here to view the current or past reported number of rabies cases in Nebraska.
Rabies is usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal, usually a wild animal. Bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes are the most common rabies carriers. Bats are especially troublesome because of their tiny teeth--bat bites are not always felt, especially if a person is bitten while asleep.
The rabies virus affects the central nervous system. Early symptoms in humans may include fever and headache. As the disease progresses symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and fear of water.
In the state of Nebraska, it is required by law that all pet owners keep their cats, dogs, and ferrets up-to-date on rabies vaccination. This requirement is important for your pet's health, and to provide protection for you if your pet is bitten by a rabid wild animal. If a pet is unvaccinated or overdue on its vaccination and it comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, that pet must either be destroyed or strictly quarantined for six months. The pet would receive the rabies vaccination at the end of the quarantine. If a pet that is vaccinated bites someone or is suspected to have been exposed to rabies it can be quarantined for 10 days for observation.
If you are bitten by a potentially rabid animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water, and seek medical attention immediately. Your physician can care for the wound and help assess the risk for rabies exposure. All potentially rabid animals that may been in human contact should be safely confined and observed, or tested for rabies if possible. Rabies testing requires can only be performed on an animal that is deceased or euthanized.
If you have further questions regarding rabies or rabies testing please contact Public Health Solutions at 1-888-310-0565.
Additional resources:
Factsheet
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nebraska Health and Human Services System
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