A Willow Creek resident has tested positive for rabies. That’s about the extent of information released so far by the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services.
The CDC informed local public health officials of the diagnosis this afternoon. The infected animal has not yet been identified, according to a press release from the county health department.
Information on human rabies can be found here. If symptoms exhibit themselves before a vaccine has been administered, the chances of survival are brutally grim. It’s unknown whether the victim had such vaccination. The full press release is below.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed local public health officials this afternoon that a Willow Creek resident has tested positive for rabies.
The source of the disease has not been identified. Rabies is transmitted by the saliva and neural tissue of infected animals. State and local officials are contacting people who may have been exposed and encouraging them to seek treatment. Preventative vaccines, also known as post-exposure prophylaxis, have been proven to be 100 percent successful at preventing illness.
Human rabies in the United States is rare. Since the 1990s, only one or two cases are reported each year. There has never been a documented case of human-to-human transmission of rabies. While the disease is more common in other countries, widespread vaccination of domestic animals in the U.S. keeps the number of human cases low.
“As in many locations, Rabies is endemic in Humboldt County wildlife,” said Dr. Ann Lindsay, Humboldt County Health Officer. “The number-one thing residents can do to protect themselves and their families is to vaccinate their domestic animals. Secondly, residents should notify law enforcement of any animals exhibiting unusual behaviors.”
The victim is receiving care at a Sacramento-area hospital. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family during this very difficult time,” Lindsay said.
We will likely have additional information available next week.
This article appears in The Book Issue.
Why the ‘smoke screen’ from Department of Human Health Services and the seemingly inept ‘investigators from County Animal Control?? If these professionals charged with safeguarding both human health issues and our animal-community – are contacting “people who may have been exposed” to this deadly virus… doesn’t it stand to reason they already know which species of animal bit the dying victim?? I think we citizens have the right to know everything, and that officials are under a duty to inform us!
SO SAD FOR THAT CHILD
Today is May 17th and no more information from the CDC or Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services – has been dispersed as regards the “first ever” case of human rabies in Humboldt County. Why the smoke-screen?? Did the young victim die? How many other Willow Creek residents have come forward to receive the post-exposure profylaxis? as human rabies is reportedly “rare” in the United States (only a handful of cases annually) – this is a HUGE story! In Humboldt County, an educated guess would be that thousands of dogs are unvaccinated for rabies and totally off-the-grid so far as state-mandated licensing..Cats? probably in the tens of thousands! Unvaccinated companion-animals co-mingle with the wildlife… Need I say more?? Please contact the CDC and our local Department of Health and Human Services – and demand to be informed about this current case… clearly, this is potentially a public health threat!!
Gail
Someone’s medical condition is none of your business. It wouldn’t affect you one bit if the person died or lived to 150. Who all got vaccinated is also not your business. I’ve read some of your rantings before, and in them peoplel always seem to be involved in some kind of conspiracy. This is no exception. But I’ve been following this closely myself and have to say the only smoke screen I’m aware of is the one clouding your logic.
Just an FYI, human rabies can remain dormate in a human for up to two years. Finding the infected animal is probably not going to happen as it is already dead. I’m sure the CDC and the Department of Health is doing a screening for any animal bites in the past.