Rabies Vector Species (RVS)

Rabies Vector Species are the species most common to carry or have the rabies virus. RVS in the United States are bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. However, any mammal can get rabies, including humans. 

Signs and symptoms of rabies in animals can vary. Rabies causes an acute encephalitis in all warm-blooded hosts and the outcome is almost always fatal. The first symptoms of rabies may be nonspecific and include lethargy, fever, vomiting, and anorexia. Signs progress within days to cerebral dysfunction, cranial nerve dysfunction, ataxia, weakness, paralysis, seizures, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, abnormal behavior, aggression towards humans or tameness, and/or self mutilation. 

While rabies is rare, with only 1 to 3 cases reported each year, an average 60,000 Americans get post exposure prophylaxis each year to prevent rabies infection AFTER being bitten or had contact with the animal's saliva by an infected animal or suspected infected animal. 

An average 120,000 animals or more are tested for rabies each year. In order to test for rabies the animal has to be euthanized. Only approximately 6% are found to be rabid- Thats right, only 6%. There is less than 1% in domestic animals to an average of 10% in wildlife. Approximately 4500 wild animals test positive for rabies each year. So what does this mean? Many healthy animals are being killed due to human ignorance.  Rabies is preventable!