Number of bats with rabies virus on the rise in the Baltimore region

Bats and dogs...
Both susceptible to rabies

The Baltimore City Bureau of Animal Control is reporting an increase in the number of bats testing positive for rabies in the Baltimore region. Bats with rabies are not unheard of in the area, but the increase has prompted officials to inform the public about the risks of rabies. Although rabies is not exclusive to bats, the animals' ability to fly long distances does mean that rabies can spread to other areas relatively quickly.
Rabies is a viral disease of the nervous system. When infected, the animal becomes aggressive and behaves abnormally. Untreated, the disease is 100% fatal in animals and humans. Humans become infected when bitten by an infected animal. The infection takes some time to develop into disease, so people who are bitten do not seek medical assistance in the timeframe required for treating them. Treatment involves immediate vaccination against rabies virus with a series of shots over the course of a month. The number of shots and their sequence depends on individual situations, though five shots in 28 days is the most common. (A 4-shot series over 28 days may be adopted soon by most providers.)
In humans, the disease causes a flu-like illness at the beginning. Then the disease becomes more severe, with encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain and its surrounding tissues) not uncommon. A series of tests are available to determine if someone exhibiting these signs may be infected with the virus. Once the disease sets in, it is difficult to cure. Treatment usually involves relieving the symptoms and giving the body time to fight off the virus. However, over 99% of cases where the disease sets in are fatal.
Because bats who are infected quickly lose their ability to fly, the most common exposure from bat bites results when people pick up a sick bat and handle it. Other exposures involve campers who are bitten by bats while the campers sleep. Because rabies is a disease of all mammals, it is important to have your household pets vaccinated against rabies. While there are statewide campaigns to vaccinate all animals, some may not do so. This is why it is very important that you seek immediate medical assistance if you are bitten by a mammal. Yes, this includes humans!