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- From: jeffp@.wsu.edu.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke)
- Subject: Re: Raccoons & pets :-(
- Message-ID: <1993Jan27.005925.189@serval.net.wsu.edu>
- Sender: news@serval.net.wsu.edu (USENET News System)
- Organization: Washington State University
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- References: <AfNOkJi00iV105dvlh@andrew.cmu.edu>
- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 00:59:25 GMT
- Lines: 28
-
- Sigrid Olson (so17+@andrew.cmu.edu) wrote:
- > Human Rabies vaccinations are not widely advised for people not exposed
- > to rabies because they only good for about a year and they don't provide
- > 100% protection. What they do is allow you more time between exposure
- > and treatment. I had rabies vaccinations as a Peace Corps Volunteer,
- > and we were told to high tail it to the capital if we were bit by a
- > suspicious animal, however the vaccine provided the leeway required in
- > countries with volunteers in the boondocks and third world
- > transportation systems.
-
- Actually, the vaccine reduces the risk of post exposure treatment failure,
- as well as reducing the number of shots required in the post exposure
- treatment. I would still hightail it to the nearest medical facility if
- bitten by a suspect.
-
- Another aspect of bites by rabid animals worth considering is that
- distance from the brain is a factor. A bite in the toe will take more
- time to kill a person than one in the face, especially if that bite is
- significant and close to a cranial nerve. We saw a very sad photo of a
- young Thai boy bitten badly in the head by a rabid dog in our virology
- class. Apparently the child had virtually a zero chance of survival, even
- with the immediate treatment that was instituted.
-
- --
- Jeff Parke <jeffp@vcs10.vetmed.wsu.edu>
- also: jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet AOL: JeffParke
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1994
- Pullman, WA 99164-7012
-