The occurrence of rabies in the United States has reportedly
decreased by 4.6% since 2003, with 2003 having 7,170 cases in
animals and 3 human cases as compared to 2004 reportedly having 6, 836 cases in animals and 8 cases in human beings. The cases were as following: 92% of the rabies cases belonged to wildlife, 8% belonged to domestic animals, a 1% decrease since 2003. Raccoons were the animal that rabies occurred in the most, approximately 2,564 raccoons. In order of
percentage from largest to smallest, skunks, bats, foxes, cattle, and dogs was the remainder of the diseased animals. With the exception of bats, cattle, humans, and other domestics, rabies has
decreased among the remaining groups.
Raccoons play a particularly large role in the occurrence of rabies in wild animals, although, during 2004, 12 of the 20 eastern states had reported a decrease in rabid raccoons. The first case of rabies in Massachusetts beyond the Cape Cod was reported in the year of 2004. With rabid raccoons spreading across the country the number of rabid skunks has decreased by 12.1% with Texas having the largest percentage as well as the largest percentage of rabies cases total. Rabies in domestic animals is on the decline by as far as 20% to 30%, including cats and dogs.
Eight cases of rabies were reported in humans in 2004. Three of the rabid people came from Texas. Most of these cases involved bites from a rabid canine. One person, however, has become the first person known to survive the rabies virus with out previous vaccination. A young man survived a bite from a rabid bat.
Rabies is not something I typically think about when I go outside. But when I read about the young man who contracted rabies from a bat bite, it made think twice about standing around and looking at bats on a summer evening. I have never come in contact with a rabid animal. I presume people should not touch or agitate wild animals to best prevent rabies.