Carly Coleman’s portrayal of rabies as a “ridiculous cause” recognized in April perfectly illustrates one of the many reasons rabies awareness is important: ignorance. Rabies causes horrific deaths in people and animals, and not all cases are so far distanced from our American microcosm. Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system, and once clinical signs are apparent, the disease is essentially 100 percent fatal in all species.
Though it is preventable by vaccination and education, it is conservatively estimated that there are 55,000 human deaths, primarily children, occurring worldwide. Rabies also affects has on humans is through significant livestock losses, which have devastating economic consequences on affected communities. Rabies also poses a threat to several endangered wildlife populations, such as the Ethiopian wolf.
Though rabies does not have as great of an effect in the United States, our country spends more than $300 million annually on rabies detection, prevention and control. In 2008, there were 6,841 U.S. and Puerto Rico cases reported in deceased animals submitted for testing. Domestic animals accounted for 471 of these cases, and there were also two cases in humans. Last year in Florida, there were 151 cases. With a flourishing population of raccoons and an excess of feral cats gratuitously supported by Gainesville residents, I can assure you we are not without rabies here.
However, due to the awareness within the scientific, medical and humanitarian communities, there have been significant advances in rabies control and prevention. Oral animal vaccines have been developed to tame the spread within wildlife populations. Through control and prevention in the animal reservoir populations, long-term control and eventual elimination of rabies is possible. In the meantime, it is prudent to continue to support rabies causes, vaccinate our pets and help raise awareness.
I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge that the other issues in the cartoon, irritable bowel syndrome and foot health, are not deserving of ridicule, and it appears as though the cartoonist is ignorant in these areas as well.
As a side note, April is neither a nationally nor globally recognized rabies awareness month.
