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ANDREW JOHNSON TOWER, 5

TH
FLOOR
710 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY
NASHVILLE, TN 37243



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Woody McMillin
MAY 13, 2014 615.741.3446
Woody.McMillin@tn.gov
OR
Shelley Walker
615.253.5184
Shelley.Walker@tn.gov


RABIES VACCINATIONS AND WILDLIFE AWARENESS SAVE LIVES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Most Tennesseans have never seen an animal with rabies or known a
family who has lost a loved one to the deadly disease. While thats a testament to vigorous
statewide rabies vaccination efforts that started in 1954, the Tennessee Department of Health is
reminding residents this disease could make a comeback if people become complacent.

In the five years before dog vaccinations were required in our state, ten residents died from
rabies, said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner. The last human rabies death in Tennessee
was in 2002. Its important for all Tennesseans to know rabies has not been eradicated; it is still
a threat that requires ongoing efforts by animal owners and others to prevent future suffering
and deaths.

City and county health departments across Tennessee are now offering rabies vaccinations for
dogs and cats. The vaccinations are important to protect not only pets, but to provide a barrier
between wildlife rabies and humans. In 2013, there were 37 confirmed cases of rabies in
animals in 18 Tennessee counties; the majority of those, 19, were skunks.

Losing a pet to rabies is traumatic and unnecessary, said TDH Deputy State Epidemiologist
John Dunn, DVM, PhD. Dogs and cats are protected from rabies through vaccinations. In
addition to having pets vaccinated, people can protect themselves and their families from rabies
by being aware of potential dangers, taking precautions to avoid animal bites and exposures
and seeking medical advice if a bite or exposure occurs.

Rabies is transmitted by the saliva of an infected mammal; it cannot be spread by reptiles or
fish. Its important to know, however, that mammals may carry the rabies virus without
displaying recognizable signs of infection. For this reason, its important to avoid touching any
wild animal, especially common carriers such as bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes.

Left untreated, the rabies virus spreads through the central nervous system. First symptoms of
rabies in people are fever, headache and weakness or fatigue. As the disease progresses,
additional symptoms appear including sleeplessness, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial
paralysis, hallucinations, excitability and hyper salivation (increased production of saliva) and
hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these latter
symptoms.
Rabies vaccinations Page 2
In addition to rabies, wild animals may have a variety of other diseases and parasites that can
be transmitted to pets, livestock and humans. Raccoons commonly have a roundworm known
as Baylisascaris procyonis, which can create severe health issues including organ damage,
brain seizures and blindness in humans. The roundworm can live for some time in raccoon
droppings, extending its ability to be transmitted to other hosts. Avoiding contact with raccoons
and raccoon feces are preventive measures to reduce risks of exposure to the raccoon
roundworm.

Learn more about rabies online at http://health.state.tn.us/FactSheets/rabies.htm and
www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the
health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides
direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for
everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health
professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments.
Learn more about TDH services and programs at http://health.state.tn.us/.

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This news release can be accessed online at http://news.tn.gov/taxonomy/term/30.

Connect with TDH on FACEBOOK and Twitter @TNDeptofHealth!


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