Rabies Cases Rise in Yekaterinburg After Squirrel Bites

Residents of Yekaterinburg are increasingly seeking rabies vaccination after being bitten by squirrels. Trauma specialists told E1.RU about this and asked to warn people. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the central nervous system. The fatality rate upon infection is almost 100%.

In Sverdlovsk Oblast, 47 cases of rabies were recorded last year, including in domestic dogs and cats.

«Of these, 37 were in wild animals, 4 in domestic dogs, 3 in cattle, 2 in cats, and 1 in a stray dog,» reported the Ural interregional department of Rosselkhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance).

In this article, an epidemiologist and veterinarians explain how rabies infection occurs, which animals can transmit the virus, and where to go if you are bitten by an unknown animal.

Why Animals Are Approaching Humans

Veterinarian Yana Nikolaychenkova named several reasons why wild animals, such as foxes, are coming closer to people more often. The first is that people feed wild animals. They see a fox, don«t understand the danger, and share their lunch. The fox remembers this and approaches people to eat. It often happens that people don»t think about the consequences and simply leave food scraps in the forest or discard products.

«The second reason may be related to deforestation, which changes the entire ecosystem, leaving animals with less food. The third reason is rabies infection; the disease affects the nervous system, and animals stop fearing humans,» the veterinarian believes.

And the fourth reason is overflowing dumps and illegal landfills in the forest near the city, where animals scavenge for food.

Who Can Transmit Rabies

Chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of Sverdlovsk Oblast Alexander Kharitonov warned that rabies can be contracted from wild animals that often approach humans. These include rodents, bats, squirrels, foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs, and badgers. Domestic animals that have contact with wild animals can also be carriers.

«Foxes pose the greatest danger, as they frequently approach people. You must not approach them under any circumstances; for example, many people come close to take photos. Keep in mind that rabid animals can be very affectionate and still bite at any moment!» said veterinary doctor Alena Romashova.

How Pets Contract Rabies

But where do domestic pets get the rabies virus? Doctors explained that animals that roam without a leash can become infected. For example, you let your dog roam in your yard, and a fox visits. Yes, this happens, and not infrequently. An E1.RU reader shared a video of a fox coming onto private property in the village of Kashino in Sysertsky District.

Your dog, which roams the house area, might fight with the fox; they could bite or scratch each other. Or this could occur on a garden plot near the forest, or in the forest itself if you go for a walk there with your pet.

«The rabies pathogen is transmitted through saliva. If a pet has damaged skin, and saliva from an infected animal gets into the wound or scratch, the virus quickly enters the body and the bloodstream,» clarified epidemiologist Alexander Kharitonov.

Veterinarian Yana Nikolaychenkova says that infection most often occurs through a bite, but other scenarios are possible: for example, if an infected fox licks a pet«s scratch, infection can also occur. The same rules apply to humans.

To prevent the spread of rabies among wild animals, up to 600,000 vaccines are scattered annually in Ural forests. They are hidden inside special baits that animals eat. Additionally, stray dogs are captured in cities, then sterilized or neutered, and also обязательно vaccinated against rabies.

How and Where Humans Can Become Infected

Sometimes people forget that wild animals are dangerous and try to pet them. But specialists say this should not be done, even if the animal doesn«t seem aggressive to you.

«If an infected animal has been licking itself or fighting with someone, and saliva is on its fur, and you have some wound on your hand, then there is a risk of contracting the disease. But this chance is small; a lot needs to coincide: an infected animal, a wound on you, and your contact with that specific animal. We are most afraid of bites,» explained the veterinary doctor.

Rabies symptoms in humans start with local sensations (itching, burning) at the bite site, then general signs develop (fever, headache, anxiety). Next comes the excitation stage, characterized by aggression, hydrophobia (fear of water), and convulsions. The final stage is paralytic, ending in death from respiratory or cardiac arrest.

Alexander Kharitonov clarified that squirrels should also not be petted, even if you pass by one daily in the park and it doesn«t seem dangerous to you. And you should not feed them from your hand.

«It happens that a squirrel tries to take a nut from your hand, and the person gets scared and jerks away. Or when an animal eats from your hand, it might bite accidentally. Squirrels can also be infected with rabies. Therefore, I advise not to touch unknown animals, meaning all except your own pets,» explained the epidemiologist.

When Should You Get a Rabies Vaccination?

If you are bitten by an unknown animal (even a street cat you tried to feed and pet), you need to go to a trauma center and get the anti-rabies vaccine. You should be cautious about contact between saliva from an unknown animal and a wound on your body where that saliva enters.

«If you are bitten by an animal that has owners (for example, a neighbor«s dog), they must provide you with a passport showing rabies vaccination; you have the right to demand this,» said Alena Romashova.

The veterinarian advises not to wait for the animal«s owner to provide a certificate of examination. If there was a bite, don»t waste time. And veterinarians also warned: you need to vaccinate pets annually, especially if you walk them in the countryside or forest, as this protects them from infection with the dangerous virus.

Where to Get a Rabies Vaccination

The vaccine should be available at all trauma centers, but there are supply disruptions. Right now is such a period when not all points have the necessary drug. In case of a bite, epidemiologist Alexander Kharitonov advised going to the nearest trauma center, and if they don«t have the drug, the hospital itself will find out and inform you where the vaccine is available and where you need to go.

Rabies vaccination typically includes 5 or 6 shots, administered on a schedule: on the day of treatment (day 0), on days 3, 7, 14, 30, and in some cases day 90. The number of shots can be reduced to three if the biting animal is observed by a veterinarian for 10 days and remains healthy. After the first shot, medics will tell you where to get the remaining ones.

Recently, city residents complained to E1.RU about a rabies vaccine shortage; information on drug supplies can be read here.

Earlier, a rabies quarantine was introduced in the village of Gorny Shchit, where an infected fox was found. Read about the dangers of rabies and how to protect against it via the link.

Foxes remain one of the main carriers of rabies, often approaching people. We explained why a real invasion of animals occurred in Yekaterinburg. Besides them, bats also carry the disease. Read how to behave when encountering them.