DSHS investigates rare human case of rabies in local child; 54 potential contacts notified

MEDINA COUNTY—This past Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced that they are investigating a case of rabies in a child who was sadly bitten by an infected bat. The child is a resident of Medina County and is currently receiving care in a Texas hospital. The last human case of rabies in a Texas resident was in 2009.
Health officials explain it is critical to get preventative treatment before rabies symptoms start, as rabies is around 99% fatal once symptoms have started. For this reason, 54 potential contacts of the child were notified by DSHS. However, the State will not be providing any further details on where the child was bitten by a rabid bat, citing privacy concerns.
“Some of the persons identified as possible exposures have started to receive post exposure prophalaxis (PEP) of the human rabies immune globulin and human rabies vaccine. We have been working with area hospitals to make sure they have stock of the rabies vaccine and can vaccinate if needed,” said Trish Mechler at our local health unit. “Our hearts go out to our county family at this difficult time.”
Rabies is a viral illness that usually spreads through the bite of an infected animal. It may also be possible to transmit the virus if infected saliva enters the eyes, nose or mouth or an open sore. Bites and non-bite exposures from an infected person through saliva could theoretically transmit rabies, but no such cases have been documented.
“Public health personnel have identified all places where someone could have come into contact with the infected bat or the rabies patient and directly contacted anyone who may have been exposed. Health officials are assessing them to determine their risk and whether they should receive post-exposure vaccination to prevent them from getting sick with rabies. People who need to be assessed have received a phone call or written notification from DSHS,” said DHHS media director Chris Van Deusen.
There are a number of things people can do to help stop the spread of rabies:
• Never approach wild animals.
• If bitten or scratched by a bat or any other animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water. Then, seek medical attention to be assessed for potential rabies exposure.
• Ensure domestic dogs and cats are up to date on rabies vaccination, as required by state law.
• Consider protecting livestock and domestic ferrets by vaccinating them.

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In Texas, skunks and bats account for most animal rabies cases, but any mammal can become infected and potentially spread it to other animals or humans. Last year, nearly 600 animals tested positive for rabies across all regions of the state; about half were bats.
DSHS will not release any additional information about the current rabies patient to protect the patient’s identity. Additional information on rabies in Texas is available at dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/rabies.aspx.
In 2021, Medina County has had two bats (May and October) and 1 dog (October) test positive for rabies.
In 2020, Medina County had 2 bats and 1 raccoon positive for rabies and reported.
In 2019, Medina County had no positive animals reported.
In 2018, Medina County had 2 positive bats reported.
Key facts from WHO (World Health Organization)
• Once clinical symptoms present, rabies is almost 100% fatal
• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories.
• Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.
• Interrupting transmission is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites.
• 40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.
• Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid animal is crucial and can save lives.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people. Dog vaccination reduces deaths attributable to dog-mediated rabies and the need for PEP as a part of dog bite patient care. Each year, rabies causes approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide, including only approximately two deaths per year in the United States, thanks to vaccines preventing the spread between pets and humans (according to CDC).
While the mortality rate is discouraging, there is hope for people fighting this terrible disease. In 2011, a young California girl was documented to be the third person in the nation to survive rabies without getting the vaccine in time. The child made an amazing recovery after many long weeks in the ICU, given what’s known as the Milwaukee treatment after suffering paralysis and eventually being put in a medically induced coma to allow her brain to recover.
Her grandmother told news reporters, “Talk to your child about any animal biting or scratching them. The shots don’t hurt. They may be a little expensive, but not half as expensive as having a loved one go through this.”
Rabies post exposure vaccines have come a long way in recent years, and are now only a series of a few shots given in the arm, beginning of the day of exposure.
By Kayleen Holder
Editor