Rabies is a well-known infectious disease. Made famous by Louis Pasteur who found the vaccine in 1885, rabies still causes the death of nearly 60,000 people worldwide each year.
Despite being a known disease, few people really understand what causes it and how it is transmitted. For some, it is also unclear how the disease is treated.
One of the diseases attributed to rabies is raccoon rabies. As the name implies, raccoon rabies comes from the saliva or bite of a raccoon. What should you know about raccoon rabies? What are the dangers of this disease?
The professional exterminators at Elite Pest Control explain everything you need to know about raccoon rabies.
What is raccoon rabies?
Rabies is a contagious and deadly disease caused by a virus. It can infect all mammals, including raccoons. Birds, reptiles and amphibians are not part of this order and therefore cannot get rabies.
The rabies virus is found in the saliva, intracerebral fluid and neural tissue of an infected mammal. The virus can be transmitted through a bite, scratch or when a wound or mucous membranes are exposed to saliva or other infectious matter. Once the virus is transmitted, it travels to the brain through the nerves. At this point, the infected individual develops irreversible symptoms that cannot be treated. Death becomes inevitable.
How is raccoon rabies spread?
There is only one rabies virus in North America. It is found in the saliva, intracerebral fluid and nervous system tissue of the infected animal. It always results in a brain infection called encephalitis and the symptoms are the same.
Only three variants of rabies are present in Quebec, including a strain specific to raccoons, but which can also affect striped skunks. This is why it is strongly recommended that you contact a raccoon exterminator if you see one of these animals near your home, especially if it is excited and aggressive.
What are the symptoms of raccoon rabies in humans?
Since humans are mammals, they can get rabies. This usually occurs through a bite or contact with the saliva of an infected animal.
Fever, chills, fatigue, insomnia, headache, anxiety and irritability are the main symptoms associated with rabies and usually appear 6 to 12 weeks after a bite. Between 30% and 70% of patients experience pain, paresthesia or itching near the bite site. Weakness or tremor may also occur in the limb that was bitten.
When symptoms appear, it is a sign that the disease is progressing and death is imminent. If you have been in contact with the rabies virus, it is important to see a doctor right away. Although these mammals represent a risk of rabies transmission, there are a few ways to control raccoons in Quebec.
Choose Elite Pest Control to protect you from raccoon-borne diseases
Raccoon rabies is a deadly infection that can affect humans. Given the abundance of wildlife in Quebec, it is important to protect ourselves from animals that can transmit this infection. Especially since infection can lead to death.
Now that you know the dangers of rabies and which animals are responsible for it, you should have raccoons trapped or exterminated when they approach your home. Extermination must be done by a trained professional exterminator to avoid any risk.
Contact Elite Pest Control today! Our expert raccoon exterminators will respond quickly in the vicinity of your home to rid you of these dangerous animals for good.
