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Rabies education urged after death in South Carolina
CDC officials are urging more education about bats and rabies for the public, as well as agencies that receive inquiries about removing bats from human dwellings, after a 46-year-old woman became the first person to die of rabies in South Carolina in 50 years.
The woman had called to report bats in her home, but was not informed at that time about the potential danger of rabies infection that the bats carried, according to CDC researchers.
“Lack of referral to guidance concerning health risks associated with bats living in the home was possibly a missed opportunity to prevent rabies infection,” according to Eric Brenner, MD, South Carolina Department of Health, and colleagues who drafted the report.
More than 90% of domestically acquired human rabies cases reported in the United States in recent years have been linked to bats, according to the report published in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Therefore, a complete rabies exposure risk assessment is recommended for any person reporting potential exposure to a bat and who was possibly bitten unknowingly.
Besides risk assessment, the researchers also urged training about rabies risk to a variety of agencies that provide wildlife assistance.
“Provision of training, educational resources, and expert consultation to agencies, institutions, and organizations that provide assistance with wildlife concerns is a valuable public health service,” the researchers wrote. “Such service requires strong partnerships and clear communication among public health officials and diverse community partners.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.