Georgia epidemiology report, Vol. 16, no. 12, (Dec. 2000)

December 2000

volume 16 number 12

Division of Public Health http://health.state.ga.us
Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. Director
State Health Officer
Epidemiology Branch http://health.state.ga.us/epi
Paul A. Blake, M.D., M.P.H. Director
State Epidemiologist
Mel Ralston Public Health Advisor
Georgia Epidemiology Report Editorial Board
Carol A. Hoban, M.S., M.P.H. - Editor Kathryn E. Arnold, M.D. Paul A. Blake, M.D., M.P.H.
Susan Lance-Parker, D.V.M., Ph.D. Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H.
Angela Alexander - Mailing List Jimmy Clanton, Jr. - Graphic Designer
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Division of Public Health Epidemiology Branch Two Peachtree St., N.W. Atlanta, GA 30303-3186 Phone: (404) 657-2588 Fax: (404) 657-2608
Please send comments to: Gaepinfo@dhr.state.ga.us
The Georgia Epidemiology Report is a publication of the Epidemiology Branch,
Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources

Human Rabies Case in Georgia
Highlights Recent Prevention
Recommendations
On October 10, 2000, a Georgia man died from rabies encephalitis caused by a rabies virus variant associated with insectivorous bats. This is consistent with an emerging pattern in the epidemiology of human rabies in the United States: bat-related virus variants were identified from 22 (59.5%) of the 37 cases of human rabies diagnosed in the United States from 1981-1999 (Table 1). Rabies is transmitted only when the virus is introduced into bite wounds or open cuts in skin or onto mucous membranes. However, epidemiologic data suggest that transmission of rabies virus can occur from minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites from bats (2). On the basis of the available information from the 22 bat-associated cases of human rabies reported since 1981: one case had a history of a bat bite; 10-12 cases had apparent contact with a bat but no bite was detected; and 7-10 cases reported no exposure to bats, but an undetected or unreported bat bite remains the most plausible hypothesis (1,2). This report summarizes the clinical features of the Georgia human rabies case and the epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Georgia Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Investigation findings underscore: 1) the need for adherence to recent Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines (1) regarding post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration for bat exposures; 2) the continuing need for public education regarding the risk of rabies acquisition from bat bites; and 3) the need for early consideration of rabies as a differential diagnosis in any progressive neurologic disease of unknown etiology to minimize the number of healthcare workers requiring PEP.
Case Report:
On the afternoon of October 3, a 26-year-old man from Taylor County developed nausea and vomiting; self-administration of an over-the-counter anti-emetic provided no amelioration of symptoms. During the next several hours, the frequency of vomiting increased and he developed hematemesis. The patient was transported to his primary care provider where he was treated with anti-emetic suppositories and advised to seek treatment at a local Emergency Department (ED) if symptoms persisted. That evening, he presented to a local hospital and was admitted. Over the next several hours he became confused, disoriented, combative, and complained of difficulty breathing. A lumbar puncture was performed; analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was within normal limits. On October 5, he became hypotensive and hypoxic and was transferred to a regional referral hospital for ventilatory support.
Upon arrival at the referral hospital, he was intubated and placed on a mechanical ventilator. Findings on physical examination included an oral temperature of 104F, anisocoric pupils, and production of copious amounts of oral secretions; pulmonary auscultation revealed scattered bilateral crackles. Additionally, a chest X-ray revealed bilateral diffuse alveolar densities suggestive of noncardiogenic edema.
Therapies of doxycycline, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and acyclovir were initiated. Over the next two days the patient's clinical course temporarily improved--his fever resolved, his oxygen requirements improved, and the pulmonary edema evident on chest X-ray decreased. The patient remained mechanically ventilated, although sedative and paralytic agent therapies were withdrawn.

The attending physician considered a diagnosis of rabies on October 7 but diagnostic testing was not immediately pursued due to the patient's apparent clinical improvement. However, on October 9 the patient developed cardiac arrhythmias and episodes of uncontrollable hypotension; he also became agitated and combative. On October 10, the patient developed respiratory and renal failure and expired. An autopsy was performed, and gross pathologic findings included diffusely consolidated lungs, and large, bilateral, serous pleural effusions. No gross evidence of encephalitis was seen upon examination of the patient's brain tissue. On October 12 rabies was diagnosed by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test from postmortem brain samples examined by the CDC Rabies Laboratory. Monoclonal antibody studies and nucleotide sequence analysis of viral RNA implicated a variant associated with Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis). A total of 71 health-care workers received PEP because of possible percutaneous or mucous membrane exposure to the patient's saliva.
Investigation:
Since July 2000, the patient had been renting a room on the upper floor of an old house. On several occasions, he reported to coworkers that bats from the attic had entered his living quarters and landed on him while he slept. Once he had been awakened by a bat that had settled on his foot under the bedcovers. Coworkers could not recall the exact date of this incident. The patient did not seek medical attention for PEP administration; he presumably did not appreciate the risk of rabies from such bat encounters. Investigation by state and local health officials revealed a colony of approximately two hundred Mexican freetailed bats in the attic of the house occupied by the patient, as well as several direct openings between the attic and the patient's bedroom, bathroom, closet, and kitchen. The attic had numerous openings to the outside near the chimney, under the eaves, and between the roofing slates. Rabies PEP was recommended for 2 persons residing in the household who may have been exposed to the bats.

The Georgia Poison Center (1-800-282-5846 or 404-616-9000, 24 hours/day, 7-days-a week) can assist healthcare providers and the general public in making routine PEP risk assessments or other management decisions for animal bites and other potential human rabies exposures. In addition, the Epidemiology Branch of the Georgia Division of Public Health (404-657-2588) can provide rabies consultation for unusual human rabies exposures or situations involving animal management. For example, the Epidemiology Branch can provide management recommendations for domestic animals bitten by a rabid or potentially rabid wild mammal or a bat, as well as recommendations about confining domestic animals that bite humans.
Medical personnel should consider rabies as a diagnosis in any person presenting with acute onset and rapid progression of compatible neurologic signs, regardless of whether the patient reports a history of an animal bite. Although early diagnosis cannot save the patient, it may minimize the number of potential exposures and the need for PEP in healthcare workers because of prompt initiation of patient isolation and standard barrier techniques against infectious diseases in the hospital.
Reduction of bat populations is not a feasible, practical, or desirable strategy for rabies control in bats. Human and domestic animal contact with bats should be minimized. Bats should be physically excluded from houses and surrounding structures by sealing potential entrances. Bats should never be handled by untrained and unvaccinated persons without safety precautions and should never be kept as pets. In addition, rabies vaccination should be kept current for all dogs and cats to provide a barrier to indirect human exposures to wildlife rabies through domestic animals.
References:

Prevention Recommendations:
The limited injury inflicted by a bat bite and an often-inaccurate recall of the exact exposure history might limit the ability of healthcare providers to determine the risk of rabies resulting from an encounter with a bat. As such, the document "Human Rabies Prevention -- United States, 1999: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices" states that in all instances of potential human exposures involving bats, the bat in question should be safely collected, if possible, and submitted through local or state health departments for rabies testing. Rabies PEP is recommended for all persons with bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure to a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies. In addition, rabies PEP should also be considered in all situations in which there is reasonable probability that a bat bite or direct contact with a bat may have occurred. For example, PEP should be considered if a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or intoxicated person (and rabies cannot be ruled out by testing the bat). Detailed descriptions of the PEP regimen including local wound treatment, administration of passive antibody, and schedule of vaccine administration are also included in this document.

1. Noah DL, Drenzek CL, Smith JS, et al. Epidemiology of human rabies in the United States, 1980 to 1996. Ann Intern Med 1998;128:922-30.
2. CDC. Human rabies prevention -- United States, 1999: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 1999; 48 (no. RR-1).
This report contributed by Cherie L. Drenzek, D.V.M., M.S., State Public Health Veterinarian, Georgia Division of Public Health, Harold L. Katner, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine, Zsolt Koppanyi, M.D., MPH, Ed Saidla, and Dee Cantrell, Ph.D., West Central Health District, Georgia Division of Public Health.

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Table 1. Cases of rabies in human beings in the United States, by circumstances of exposure and rabies virus variant, 1981-1999* (Adapted from: JW Krebs, JS Smith, CE Rupprecht, et al. Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1998. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999; 215:1786-1798.)

Date of death

State of residence

Exposure history#

Rabies virus variant+

4 Jul 81 11 Sep81 28 Jan 83 9 Mar 83 8 Aug 84 29 Sep 84 1 Oct 84 20 May 85 15 Dec 87 3 Feb 89 5 Jun 90 20 Aug 91 25 Aug 91 10 Oct 91 8 May 92 11 Jul 93 9 Nov 93 21 Nov 93 18 Jan 94 21 Jun 94 11 Oct 94 15 Oct 94 23 Nov 94 27 Nov 94 15 Mar 95 2 Sep 95 3 Oct 95 9 Nov 95 8 Feb 96 20 Aug 96 15 Nov 96 19 Dec 96 5 Jan 97 18 Jan 97 17 Oct 97 23 Oct 97 31 Dec 98

OK

Unknown

Skunk, South Central

AZ

Dog bite - Mexico

Dog, Mexico

MA

Dog bite - Nigeria

Dog, Nigeria

MI

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

TX

Unknown- Laos

Dog, Laos

PA

Unknown

Bat, Msp

CA

Dog bite Guatemala Dog, Guatemala

TX

Unknown Mexico

Dog, Mexico

CA

Unknown Philippines Dog, Philippines

OR

Unknown - Mexico

Dog, Mexico

TX

Bat bite - TX

Bat, Tb

TX

Unknown

Dog/coyote

AR

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

GA

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

CA

Dog bite - India

Dog, India

NY

Unknown

Bat, LnPs

TX

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

CA

Dog bite - Mexico

Dog, Mexico

CA

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

FL

Unknown - Haiti

Dog, Haiti

AL

Unknown

Bat,Tb

WV

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

TN

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

TX

Unknown

Dog/coyote

WA

Unknown

Bat,Msp

CA

Unknown

Bat, Tb

CT

Unknown

Bat Ln/Ps

CA

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

FL

Dog bite - Mexico

Dog, Mexico

NH

Dog bite - Nepal

Dog, Asia

KY

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

MT

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

MT

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

WA

Unknown

Bat, Ef

TX

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

NJ

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

VA

Unknown

Bat, Ln/Ps

*All laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in human beings who developed the disease in the United States through November 1998. Excluded are three persons who were exposed to the disease and died of their infections while outside the United States. # Data for exposure history are reported only when the biting animal was available and tested positive for rabies, when plausible information was reported directly by the patient (if lucid or credible), or when a reliable account of an incident consistent with rabies exposure (e.g., dog bite) was reported by an independent witness (usually a family member). +Variants of the rabies virus associated with terrestrial animals in the United States are identified with the name of the animal reservoir, whereas variants of the rabies virus acquired outside the United States are identified with the names of the reservoir animal (dog, in all cases shown), followed by the name of the most definitive geographic entity (usually the country) from which the variant has been identified. Variants of the rabies virus associated with bats are identified with the names of the species of bat(s) in which they have been found to be circulating. In some instances the known or presumed geographic location of human beings when they were infected may rule out one of the species indicated in for the variant known as the silver-haired/pipistrelle variant (Ln/Ps). Because information regarding the location of the exposure and the identity of the exposing animal is almost always gathered retrospectively and much information is frequently unavailable,the location of the exposure and the identity of the animal responsible for the infection are often limited to deduction.
Ln/Ps=Lasionycteris noctivagans or Pipistrellus subflavus, the silver-haired bat or the eastern pipistrelle; Msp=Myotis, species unknown; Tb=Tadarida brasiliensis, the Brazilian (Mexican)free-tailed bat; Ef=Eptesicus fuscus, the big brown bat.

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The Georgia Epidemiology Report Epidemiology Branch Two Peachtree St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303-3186

Bulk Rate U.S. Postage
Paid Atlanta, Ga Permit No. 4528

December 2000

Volume 16 Number 12

Reported Cases of Selected Notifiable Diseases in Georgia Profile* for August 2000

Selected Notifiable Diseases
Campylobacteriosis Chlamydia trachomatis Cryptosporidiosis E. coli O157:H7 Giardiasis Gonorrhea Haemophilus influenzae (invasive) Hepatitis A (acute) Hepatitis B (acute) Legionellosis Lyme Disease Meningococcal Disease (invasive) Mumps Pertussis Rubella Salmonellosis Shigellosis Syphilis - Primary Syphilis - Secondary Syphilis - Early Latent Syphilis - Other** Syphilis - Congenital Tuberculosis

Total Reported for September 2000
2000 28
2410 12 1 111
1585 2 43 34 1 0 4 0 1 0
170 30 20 58 110 156 0 68

Previous 3 Months Total

Ending in September

1998

1999 2000

246

182

176

5639

7439

8706

54

36

79

35

20

24

427

474

376

5608

5395

5695

12

8

7

242

127

123

43

77

85

5

2

1

1

0

0

16

11

6

0

3

0

12

23

10

0

0

0

828

795

673

327

90

84

56

84

56

100

166

164

374

304

266

452

436

408

6

16

2

162

161

181

Previous 12 Months Total

Ending in September

1998

1999

2000

812

765

627

17698

30631

31317

129

175

191

74

45

52

1191

1335

1280

15439

20960

20610

57

83

79

870

638

338

227

204

273

12

2

10

8

0

0

98

75

60

2

5

2

32

48

50

0

0

0

1701

1990

1783

1425

435

282

210

274

270

410

552

626

1484

1516

1234

1503

1524

1450

24

44

28

628

629

691

* The cumulative numbers in the above table reflect the date the disease was first diagnosed rather than the date the report was received at the state office, and therefore are subject to change over time due to late reporting. The 3 month delay in the disease profile for a given month is designed to minimize any changes that may occur. This method of summarizing data is expected to provide a better overall measure of disease trends and patterns in Georgia.
** Other syphilis includes latent (unknown duration), late latent, late with symptomatic manifestations, and neurosyphilis.

Report Period
Latest 12 Months: 10/99 - 9/00 Five Years Ago: 10/94 - 9/95 Cumulative: 7/81 - 9/00

Total Cases Reported*

Percent Female

AIDS Profile Update
Risk Group Distribution (%) MSM IDU MSM&IDU HS Blood

Unknown

1259

27.3

28.2

10.8

2.5

13

2.1

43.4

2335

18.5

47.3

21.1

5.7

14.6

1.9

9.3

22377

16.5

49

18.5

5.7

12.9

1.9

12

MSM - Men having sex with men

IDU - Injection drug users

HS - Heterosexual

* Case totals are accumulated by date of report to the Epidemiology Section

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Race Distribution (%) White Black Other

20

76.9

3.1

35.5 62.1

2.4

36.1 61.7

2.1