Comments on: How to: Survive rabies without really trying http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 07:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388354 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388354 You know, you could have kept the bat in the bowl and taken it to animal control to be tested. That would have been simpler than all of you getting rabies shots. You know, you could have kept the bat in the bowl and taken it to animal control to be tested. That would have been simpler than all of you getting rabies shots.

]]> By: John Westerman http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388099 John Westerman Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388099  "We made calls to the numbers she gave us, but she's dropped off the grid." - Why exactly can't we get some police and private detectives after her?  Seems like the potential benefits - curing rabies - outweigh the financial costs by far, and that this might be the exception to the rule in the case of patient confidentiality.   ”We made calls to the numbers she gave us, but she’s dropped off the grid.” – Why exactly can’t we get some police and private detectives after her?  Seems like the potential benefits – curing rabies – outweigh the financial costs by far, and that this might be the exception to the rule in the case of patient confidentiality. 

]]> By: tempbot http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388091 tempbot Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388091 Last summer I woke to find a bat chilling on the ceiling of our hallway.  It was my wife's birthday.  She looked at me and calmly said, "the best birthday present you can give me is to get that f*cking bat out of my f*cking house now."  My dog really wanted to help, but I got him out of the house right away.  In retrospect, I thought to myself, "why did I exclude the one member of the family who is 1) actually vaccinated against rabies, and 2) enthusiastic about catching this effer?" Because we had no idea if it had been in any of the bedrooms overnight, my wife and I and our two young kids all got the whole series of shots.  Pain in the ass.  Literally. Bonus PSA: Here's how I caught it: If it's not stationary, wait for it to land, place large bowl over it, slide piece of cardboard between ceiling and bowl, run outside like you're carrying plutonium, release in least-favorite neighbor's yard. Last summer I woke to find a bat chilling on the ceiling of our hallway.  It was my wife’s birthday.  She looked at me and calmly said, “the best birthday present you can give me is to get that f*cking bat out of my f*cking house now.”  My dog really wanted to help, but I got him out of the house right away.  In retrospect, I thought to myself, “why did I exclude the one member of the family who is 1) actually vaccinated against rabies, and 2) enthusiastic about catching this effer?”

Because we had no idea if it had been in any of the bedrooms overnight, my wife and I and our two young kids all got the whole series of shots.  Pain in the ass.  Literally.

Bonus PSA: Here’s how I caught it: If it’s not stationary, wait for it to land, place large bowl over it, slide piece of cardboard between ceiling and bowl, run outside like you’re carrying plutonium, release in least-favorite neighbor’s yard.

]]> By: tomrigid http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388089 tomrigid Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388089 She probably had some prior low-level exposure which conferred an inoculative effect. She was homeless, and might have had exposure through bat-shit or transient dogs. Rabies might be the sort of thing that wouldn't normally kill a human unless that human had been raised and kept in a hygienic environment, away from rabid stimuli. Or, yeah, it could be some other thing. I'll have the needle, please. She probably had some prior low-level exposure which conferred an inoculative effect. She was homeless, and might have had exposure through bat-shit or transient dogs. Rabies might be the sort of thing that wouldn’t normally kill a human unless that human had been raised and kept in a hygienic environment, away from rabid stimuli.

Or, yeah, it could be some other thing. I’ll have the needle, please.

]]> By: Sigmund_Jung http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388081 Sigmund_Jung Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388081 "About 35,000 people receive the expensive shots — the series costs about $1,600 — in the U.S. "  In Brazil, my wife was once bitten by a stray cat and a doctor immediatelly indicated the rabies treatment since they could not monitor the cat. Only public hospitals in Brazil carry the vaccine. The whole treatment was free. “About 35,000 people receive the expensive shots — the series costs about $1,600 — in the U.S. ” 

In Brazil, my wife was once bitten by a stray cat and a doctor immediatelly indicated the rabies treatment since they could not monitor the cat. Only public hospitals in Brazil carry the vaccine. The whole treatment was free.

]]> By: John Smith http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388075 John Smith Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388075 Just shoot me in the head so I won't walk when I'm dead. Just shoot me in the head
so I won’t walk when I’m dead.

]]> By: adent1066 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388067 adent1066 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388067 "It's in our blood; we're all carriers" “It’s in our blood; we’re all carriers”

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388044 Maggie Koerth-Baker Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388044 I think it would be highly unlikely that, if this was the case, the hospital would have gone through the trouble of writing up her case for widespread publication in the CDC medical archive.  Also: People dying of rabies can't really just get up and leave. They couldn't have just shown her the door. She wouldn't have been able to make it that far.  I think it would be highly unlikely that, if this was the case, the hospital would have gone through the trouble of writing up her case for widespread publication in the CDC medical archive. 

Also: People dying of rabies can’t really just get up and leave. They couldn’t have just shown her the door. She wouldn’t have been able to make it that far. 

]]> By: scav http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1388040 scav Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1388040 #5 - she's now a rabies *carrier*. This is how zombie outbreaks start, people! #5 – she’s now a rabies *carrier*. This is how zombie outbreaks start, people!

]]> By: pigeon http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387988 pigeon Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387988 Look, as I suggested to StaceyG, I'll do the same for you Sheryl. Please read reliable information on this subject written by medical experts. People don't just "clear viruses that are otherwise incurable". The likelihood is so small as to be inconsequential. When people test HIV+ and then later test HIV-, what has probably happened is they are the lucky .001 percent that receive a false positive result, or they did a standard anti-body quick test too soon for anti-bodies to be detected. The should follow that up with a comprehensive bloodwork analysis that actually reveals the virus itself. In the case of people like your raccoon hunters, there have been recorded incidences of people not seeking treatment for suspicious animal bites, who survive without symptoms for a long while but then eventually die when the rabies virus comes out of dormancy. If you get Rabies, consider yourself dead. Okay?  Look, as I suggested to StaceyG, I’ll do the same for you Sheryl. Please read reliable information on this subject written by medical experts. People don’t just “clear viruses that are otherwise incurable”. The likelihood is so small as to be inconsequential. When people test HIV+ and then later test HIV-, what has probably happened is they are the lucky .001 percent that receive a false positive result, or they did a standard anti-body quick test too soon for anti-bodies to be detected. The should follow that up with a comprehensive bloodwork analysis that actually reveals the virus itself. In the case of people like your raccoon hunters, there have been recorded incidences of people not seeking treatment for suspicious animal bites, who survive without symptoms for a long while but then eventually die when the rabies virus comes out of dormancy. If you get Rabies, consider yourself dead. Okay? 

]]> By: pigeon http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387980 pigeon Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387980 Don't be ridiculous StaceyG. Go read a reputable medical journal about the subject and educate yourself. You sound like HIV conspiracy theorists who denounce anti-retrovirals.  Don’t be ridiculous StaceyG. Go read a reputable medical journal about the subject and educate yourself. You sound like HIV conspiracy theorists who denounce anti-retrovirals. 

]]> By: juepucta http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387969 juepucta Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387969 have you kept tabs on the gf, especially when there is a full moon? sleep with one eye open, bro have you kept tabs on the gf, especially when there is a full moon? sleep with one eye open, bro

]]> By: kairos http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387961 kairos Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387961 The reason for this persistent situation is basically that our large, fragile brains are highly vulnerable to viral encephalitis, which is the primary cause of death in rabies infections. The differential in baseline lethality between non-human host species and human populations is so high that the virus hasn't been able to jump the gap and adapt to survive and propagate in human groups. The reason for this persistent situation is basically that our large, fragile brains are highly vulnerable to viral encephalitis, which is the primary cause of death in rabies infections. The differential in baseline lethality between non-human host species and human populations is so high that the virus hasn’t been able to jump the gap and adapt to survive and propagate in human groups.

]]> By: Culturedropout http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387854 Culturedropout Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387854  Obscure movie reference FTW.  Obscure movie reference FTW.

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387817 robcat2075 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387817 I saw a doctor after being bitten by a dog several years ago. He advised that the chances of getting rabies from a domesticated dog (the dog was being walked by someone when it bit me) was low so I didn't get any shots.  The cost would have been around $1200. (Why didn't we just quarantine the dog to be sure it didn't have rabies?  The owner and the dog ran off immediately after the attack and i never found them again.) He did quote me the factoid that bite wounds from genuinely rabid animals are 70% less likely to result in rabies if the wound is washed out immediately afterward. I saw a doctor after being bitten by a dog several years ago. He advised that the chances of getting rabies from a domesticated dog (the dog was being walked by someone when it bit me) was low so I didn’t get any shots.  The cost would have been around $1200.

(Why didn’t we just quarantine the dog to be sure it didn’t have rabies?  The owner and the dog ran off immediately after the attack and i never found them again.)

He did quote me the factoid that bite wounds from genuinely rabid animals are 70% less likely to result in rabies if the wound is washed out immediately afterward.

]]> By: liquis http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387787 liquis Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387787 Austin's Congress Bridge bat colony - 1.5 million, Houston's Waugh Bridge bat colony - 250,000.  The bridge in Houston is the only bridge colony in Texas that stays year round.  The colony in Austin leaves for the winter.     Maybe you thought that was impressive.  How about this: just to the NW of San Antonio is Bracken Cave, home to the largest colony of bats in the world: 20 million.  Which also, not surprisingly, is the largest concentration of mammals in the world. Austin’s Congress Bridge bat colony – 1.5 million, Houston’s Waugh Bridge bat colony – 250,000.  The bridge in Houston is the only bridge colony in Texas that stays year round.  The colony in Austin leaves for the winter.    

Maybe you thought that was impressive.  How about this: just to the NW of San Antonio is Bracken Cave, home to the largest colony of bats in the world: 20 million.  Which also, not surprisingly, is the largest concentration of mammals in the world.

]]> By: Peter http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387747 Peter Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387747 Vaccines all carry some inherent degree of risk of negative reaction. Therefore they're only recommended when the risk of the disease outweighs the risk of the vaccine. Because most people will not come into contact with the disease and the vaccine can be given prophylacticaly post-bite, there's not really much reason to take on the cost and risk of vaccination unless your risk of contact with the disease is atypically high. Vaccines all carry some inherent degree of risk of negative reaction. Therefore they’re only recommended when the risk of the disease outweighs the risk of the vaccine. Because most people will not come into contact with the disease and the vaccine can be given prophylacticaly post-bite, there’s not really much reason to take on the cost and risk of vaccination unless your risk of contact with the disease is atypically high.

]]> By: Incipient Madness http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387727 Incipient Madness Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387727 That's only happened once to me. It was the best cat entertainment ever.  That’s only happened once to me. It was the best cat entertainment ever. 

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387720 Preston Sturges Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387720 There a case in Turkey or some place like 15 years ago where people were harvesting grapes, and workers sleep in the vineyards at night.  A rabid dog came through and bit like  30 people. Treatment was not available. Something like 4 people lived despite being bitten.  There a case in Turkey or some place like 15 years ago where people were harvesting grapes, and workers sleep in the vineyards at night.  A rabid dog came through and bit like  30 people. Treatment was not available. Something like 4 people lived despite being bitten. 

]]> By: Ryan_T_H http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387684 Ryan_T_H Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387684  Not so much. Because occasionally people (like this girl) do show up at a hospital already showing symptoms. And they die. All of them. It's not like it's been decades since the last time there was an untreated rabies case and we have been passing on a rumor of fear ever since. Doctors watch people die of this every year.  Not so much. Because occasionally people (like this girl) do show up at a hospital already showing symptoms. And they die. All of them.

It’s not like it’s been decades since the last time there was an untreated rabies case and we have been passing on a rumor of fear ever since. Doctors watch people die of this every year.

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387674 jere7my Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387674 I've got a little foaming, but it's worth it for the money I save on shaving cream. I’ve got a little foaming, but it’s worth it for the money I save on shaving cream.

]]> By: Christopher Bosdal http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387652 Christopher Bosdal Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387652  Exactly right.  I'm part of a small bat rehab. organization and I can attest first hand to seeing people bitten by bats and seeing no physical evidence of the bite.   Most bats teeth are so tiny, you might not even feel the bite. The best advice for rabies prevention pre exposure is avoidance.  If you see a bat on the ground, look up "bat rehabilitation" in Google.  Most of the time, they'll come pick up the bat for free.  If they are unable, call animal control.  Under no circumstances should anyone ever touch a bat if they don't have rabies vaccination.  It will just result in the bat being tested (aka killed).  Keep your pets away from them too.  Exactly right.  I’m part of a small bat rehab. organization and I can attest first hand to seeing people bitten by bats and seeing no physical evidence of the bite.   Most bats teeth are so tiny, you might not even feel the bite.

The best advice for rabies prevention pre exposure is avoidance.  If you see a bat on the ground, look up “bat rehabilitation” in Google.  Most of the time, they’ll come pick up the bat for free.  If they are unable, call animal control.  Under no circumstances should anyone ever touch a bat if they don’t have rabies vaccination.  It will just result in the bat being tested (aka killed).  Keep your pets away from them too.

]]> By: BBNinja http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387646 BBNinja Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387646 Ha!  Nice observation.  Possible?  Perhaps. Ha!  Nice observation.  Possible?  Perhaps.

]]> By: Spriggan_Prime http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387619 Spriggan_Prime Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387619  It is. My wife who works in a shelter was required to get it after being hired. It needs to be boostered if you actually do get bitten though.  It is. My wife who works in a shelter was required to get it after being hired. It needs to be boostered if you actually do get bitten though.

]]> By: Ryan Quinlivan http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387538 Ryan Quinlivan Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387538 http://pitchfork.com/news/46038-bat-pisses-in-torche-guitarists-eye/ http://pitchfork.com/news/46038-bat-pisses-in-torche-guitarists-eye/

]]> By: Melinda9 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387530 Melinda9 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387530 I've always wondered why the vaccine is available for cats and dogs, but not for humans, considering how fatal the disease is and you can be infected without knowing it. I’ve always wondered why the vaccine is available for cats and dogs, but not for humans, considering how fatal the disease is and you can be infected without knowing it.

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387526 jere7my Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387526 <i>You are far more likely to catch rabies from a dog than a bat. </i> It's certainly true that most bats don't have rabies, but that statement is flat wrong. Rabies has been virtually eliminated in household pets in the US. From the CDC: "Wild animals accounted for 92% of reported cases of rabies in 2010. Raccoons continued to be the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species (36.5% of all animal cases during 2010), followed by skunks (23.5%), bats (23.2%), foxes (7.0%), and other wild animals, including rodents and lagomorphs (1.8%)." Pets are the other 8%. Since 1995, 35 of the 49 human rabies fatalities in the US were from bats, compared to 12 from dogs. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/human_rabies.html The only two human cases of rabies reported in 2010 were both from bats. http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.239.6.773 It's true that most bats are healthy, but the trouble is they're much harder to catch and test than other animals. It's also possible to be bitten by a bat and not know it — the one Massachusetts fatality since 1935 didn't know he'd been bitten. That's usually not true of dogs. I did a bunch of research after I got bit. :) I adore bats too, but I want to set the record straight. Interesting note: possums' body temperature is too low to support the rabies virus, so possum bites are worry-free. You are far more likely to catch rabies from a dog than a bat.

It’s certainly true that most bats don’t have rabies, but that statement is flat wrong. Rabies has been virtually eliminated in household pets in the US. From the CDC: “Wild animals accounted for 92% of reported cases of rabies in 2010. Raccoons continued to be the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species (36.5% of all animal cases during 2010), followed by skunks (23.5%), bats (23.2%), foxes (7.0%), and other wild animals, including rodents and lagomorphs (1.8%).” Pets are the other 8%.

Since 1995, 35 of the 49 human rabies fatalities in the US were from bats, compared to 12 from dogs. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/human_rabies.html

The only two human cases of rabies reported in 2010 were both from bats. http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.239.6.773

It’s true that most bats are healthy, but the trouble is they’re much harder to catch and test than other animals. It’s also possible to be bitten by a bat and not know it — the one Massachusetts fatality since 1935 didn’t know he’d been bitten. That’s usually not true of dogs.

I did a bunch of research after I got bit. :) I adore bats too, but I want to set the record straight. Interesting note: possums’ body temperature is too low to support the rabies virus, so possum bites are worry-free.

]]> By: petertrepan http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387519 petertrepan Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387519 Or #6: It wasn't rabies. Or #6: It wasn’t rabies.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387514 bcsizemo Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387514 Oh don't get me wrong, I like bats.  They eat insects, which I dislike more than them.  However, when they get inside you house it makes for a nerve racking experience (in my case twice now). Oh don’t get me wrong, I like bats.  They eat insects, which I dislike more than them.  However, when they get inside you house it makes for a nerve racking experience (in my case twice now).

]]> By: AceTracer http://boingboing.net/2012/04/04/how-to-survive-rabies-without.html#comment-1387506 AceTracer Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=152991#comment-1387506 You'll still need immunoglobulin (the shots in your wound) if you get bitten again. You’ll still need immunoglobulin (the shots in your wound) if you get bitten again.

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