[HEALTH.MIL] Army Medicine Seeks To ID, Treat Soldiers Potentially Exposed to Rabies Virus

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  • Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:00:05 -0500

Army Medicine Seeks To ID, Treat Soldiers Potentially Exposed to Rabies Virus

September 21, 2011
By Army Medicine Public Affairs


A Fort Drum, N.Y. Soldier, who recently returned from Afghanistan, died from
rabies after contracting the disease from a feral dog while deployed.
 
The Army has initiated an investigation to ensure that other service members who
may have been exposed to rabies are identified and receive preventive treatment,
if needed.
 
The Army Medical Department along with the Department of Defense (DOD), other
uniformed services and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
are working together to expeditiously identify, evaluate and treat any service
members, DOD civilians and contractors who may have been exposed to rabies while
deployed. Individuals who have already been identified as being exposed to the
disease while deployed are currently receiving appropriate evaluation and
treatment. 

The importance of receiving appropriate medical evaluation following contact
with a feral/stray animal cannot be overstated. Rabies may not show any signs or
symptoms in the infected animal until late in the disease, often just days
before its death. The animal can, however, still spread the deadly virus while
appearing completely normal. 

The rabies virus is transmitted to humans by the saliva of infected animals
through bite wounds, contact with mucous membranes or broken skin. Humans can
become infected and harbor the virus for weeks to months, and in extremely rare
cases, years before becoming ill. During this incubation period, which averages
between one and three months, rabies can be prevented with appropriate
treatment, including a series of vaccinations. Once symptoms occur, however,
death is almost always certain.
 
All previously deployed Service Members (Active or Reserve Component, as well as
those recently discharged from military service); DOD civilians and contractors
who have had contact with a feral/stray animal while deployed should be
immediately evaluated by medical personnel. Army Medicine and the DOD are
committed to ensuring that anyone who believes they may have been exposed while
deployed is provided with appropriate medical evaluation and care. 

The Army Medical Department and the DOD is dedicated to ensuring the health and
well-being of all Service Members, DOD civilians and contractors.
 
We ask the friends and families of those returning from a deployment after March
2010 to encourage anyone that may have been exposed to seek medical attention,
even if no symptoms are readily apparent.
 
Call the Wounded Warrior & Family Hotline at 1-800-984-8523 (Stateside DSN:
421-3700 or Overseas DSN: 312-421-3700) for information on obtaining a medical
evaluation and, if necessary, treatment. 

Get more rabies information by visiting these Web sites: www.cdc.gov/rabies or
http://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/discond/aid/Pages/Rabies.aspx


------
SOURCE:  US Army News Release at http://www.army.mil/article/65926/





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