MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota resident who got here into contact with a bat in July died of rabies, the state’s division of well being introduced Friday.
The individual’s dying marks a uncommon incidence, as fewer than 10 folks within the the U.S. die from rabies annually, based on the U.S. Facilities of Illness Management and Prevention. The individual is over the age of 65 and was uncovered to a bat in western Minnesota in July, the Minnesota Division of Well being stated.
CDC officers confirmed the rabies prognosis at its lab in Atlanta on Sept. 20. In a information launch, the state well being division stated it was working to judge whether or not extra folks had been uncovered to the illness, however stated there was no ongoing danger to the general public
Officers stated the deadly case suggested the general public to keep away from contact with bats, whose enamel are so tiny {that a} chew is probably not felt and even go away a noticeable mark.
Rabies is attributable to a virus that invades the central nervous system and is normally deadly in animals and people. If left untreated, rabies is sort of at all times deadly. However rabies remedy has confirmed to be almost extremely efficient at stopping the illness after an publicity, state well being officers stated. Remedy have to be began earlier than signs of rabies seem, they added.
Dr. Stacy Holzbauer, the state public well being veterinarian, additionally suggested folks to get their family pets and livestock immunized towards rabies.
The variety of rabies-related human deaths within the U.S. has declined from greater than 100 yearly within the early 1900s to lower than 5 circumstances yearly in recent times, the well being division. About 70% of infections acquired within the nation are attributed to bat exposures.
