A resident of Minnesota who was exposed to a bat back in July, passed away around two weeks ago from Rabies, making it the fifth case recorded since 1975 for Minnesota.

Rabies is a rare, but serious disease. Thankfully now because of animal and human health experts, less than 10 people in the United States die of Rabies each year. Although it is rare, every 3/4 of Americans live with either raccoons, skunks, or foxes that carry this dangerous disease. People die from Rabies typically because they receive medical help too late after being bitten or scratched by an animal with Rabies. This is very dangerous especially, with bat bites being small enough to go unnoticed, similar to this recent case.

The patient was over 65 years of age and was exposed to the bat back in July, in western Minnesota, but no other information was given out by the CDC. As soon as the virus hits the central nervous system and clinical symptoms become present rabies becomes fatal in 100% of its cases.

There are two different types of Rabies you can be infected by. The first is Furious rabies, which leads to symptoms of hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia, and aerophobia (fear of drafts or fresh air). A person with Furious Rabies can die after just a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest. The second type of Rabies is Paralytic Rabies. This form of Rabies is usually less intense of a reaction and typically takes a longer course on the body. After being bit, the muscles around the bite wound gradually become paralyzed and will slowly fall into a coma and eventually, the patient dies.

There are few ways to treat or prevent Rabies, but people must take action on them. First, is making sure people understand Rabies and how to avoid it. Adults and children must be taught dog behavior and notice the signs of aggression in the animals. People should also be aware of what to do after being bit or scratched by an animal that possibly is infected with Rabies. The next way to prevent Rabies from dogs by getting them vaccinated, which is the most cost-effective strategy.