Four years had gone by with no registered cases of rabies affecting humans in Costa Rica. Unfortunately today the Ministry of Health confirmed the case of a 43-year-old biologist who became infected by the virus and is in very delicate condition at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in San Jose.
Apparently, the man was bit by a bat on his left arm when he visited a cave during a family trip in the area of Copey de Dota back in August 15.
He arrived at the hospital this past Sunday, October 21st, paralyzed from the neck down and currently has kidney failure. It seems that the patient started presenting symptoms around October 11 and consulted with local clinics, however, he never mentioned the incident with the bat.
Personnel of the Ministry of Health has been conducting research in the area of Dota to find out if there have been any other accidents relating bats or anyone that has presented symptoms, while the Animal Health Service (SENASA) is also in the process of documenting information on the bats in this particular region.
The Rabies virus is transmitted usually through the contact with saliva of infected animals (in Costa Rica bats have been the cause of all cases in humans, but other animals such as squirrels, raccoons, rats and also birds could carry the virus) , the symptoms can appear weeks or even months after the contact and can include fever, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite and fatigue and discomfort or itching sensation at the site of the bite, “progressing within days to symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia”, describes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The recommendation for a person that has been bit by an animal which could carry the virus is to get vaccinated before the symptoms appear.
According to data by the Ministry of health only 7 cases have been detected in humans since 1967. The last registered case was back in 2014 involving a 9-year-old in the area of Palmar Norte in the South Zone of Costa Rica, the child died as a consequence of the virus.
The board of Veterinary Doctors in Costa Rica shared a post in which they remind the general population of the importance of vaccinating their pets to prevent them from becoming a carrier of this virus, this vaccine must be applied once a year.
Apparently, the man was bit by a bat on his left arm when he visited a cave during a family trip in the area of Copey de Dota back in August 15.
He arrived at the hospital this past Sunday, October 21st, paralyzed from the neck down and currently has kidney failure. It seems that the patient started presenting symptoms around October 11 and consulted with local clinics, however, he never mentioned the incident with the bat.
Personnel of the Ministry of Health has been conducting research in the area of Dota to find out if there have been any other accidents relating bats or anyone that has presented symptoms, while the Animal Health Service (SENASA) is also in the process of documenting information on the bats in this particular region.
The Rabies virus is transmitted usually through the contact with saliva of infected animals (in Costa Rica bats have been the cause of all cases in humans, but other animals such as squirrels, raccoons, rats and also birds could carry the virus) , the symptoms can appear weeks or even months after the contact and can include fever, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite and fatigue and discomfort or itching sensation at the site of the bite, “progressing within days to symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia”, describes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The recommendation for a person that has been bit by an animal which could carry the virus is to get vaccinated before the symptoms appear.
According to data by the Ministry of health only 7 cases have been detected in humans since 1967. The last registered case was back in 2014 involving a 9-year-old in the area of Palmar Norte in the South Zone of Costa Rica, the child died as a consequence of the virus.
The board of Veterinary Doctors in Costa Rica shared a post in which they remind the general population of the importance of vaccinating their pets to prevent them from becoming a carrier of this virus, this vaccine must be applied once a year.
