Horse rabies case in southwest Nebraska

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has confirmed the second positive rabies case in Southwest Nebraska for the year.  The rabies exposure is with a horse in Chase County.  
    “Rabies in horses occurs with less frequency than in dogs or cats, “explains Melissa Propp, Disease Surveillance Coordinator.  “The only way to diagnose rabies is with a laboratory test performed after death.  Because the horse’s symptoms may mimic other more common diseases, many people may be exposed to the infected horse while it is infectious. The best method to prevent human exposure is to ensure that horses, livestock and pets are protected against rabies with current vaccinations.”
    In horses as in other warm blooded animals; rabies is a severe, rapidly progressive neurological disease. It is transmitted via saliva, most commonly through bite wounds from an infected wild animal. Although symptoms may appear anytime from two weeks up to one year after exposure, on average symptoms appear four to eight weeks after the exposure. Death usually occurs two to four days after the horse begins to show clinical signs.

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