Rabies death in Indiana
An Indiana woman has died of rabies. Little information is currently available. Reports state that bat rabies was involved but that the source of exposure was not known. Presumably, they have determined that she was infected by the bat rabies variant (strain), but she didn't report being bitten or otherwise exposed to a bat. Bat rabies is a serious concern because it is easy to get bitten by a bat and not know it. Most cases of rabies in Canada and the US are associated with bat exposure. This is a tragic reminder about why we pay a lot of attention to bats and rabies (and why my family received post-exposure treatment after having a bat in the house a few years ago).
More information about rabies can be found on the Worms & Germs Resources page.
http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/admin/trackback/163419
I followed the link to your story about a rabid bat in your house, and my personal story is almost exactly the same. After I caught it, I had to take the bat for testing myself, since our county animal control did not think there was sufficient human exposure to warrant testing. Well, the bat came back positive for rabies. Then I had to argue with our public health department about getting post-exposure prophylaxis for my family. Luckily, being a veterinarian, I am familiar with the risks involved with rabid bats. I am glad that I insisted on treatment for my family, despite the hassle and cost associated with getting everyone vaccinated.