Published: June 21, 2008 02:10 pm         

Health alert: Rabies vaccines running short

San Marcos — A disruption in rabies vaccines could mean painful consequences for those who come in contact with stray animals, said the Hays County Personal Health Department.

The FDA has limited the distribution of human rabies vaccines to be released only on a case-by-case situation due to what heath services officials are calling unprecedented low levels of the treatment.

“One of the labs (that makes vaccines) is being re-done,” said Nick Icossipentarhos of HCPHD. “Until that production facility is back on line, we’re in deep trouble.”

He said people should be very careful about what animals they handle and stay away from any stray or unfamiliar animals.

Signs of rabies in animals include any behavior that is uncharacteristic of that animal, like wild animals that appear abnormally tame or sick or animals that bite at everything when excited, said the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Other symptoms may include problems swallowing, an increase in drool or saliva, difficulty moving or paralysis or death.

Human symptoms develop 30 to 90 days after an animal bite, said the CDC. Early human symptoms may include fever, headache, sore throat, and feeling tired.

Pain or tingling at the bite, hallucinations, hydrophobia and paralysis could also occur.

“It’s very very serious,” said Icossipentarhos. “We’re hoping it gets resolved soon.”

     

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