Two USA travelers possibly infected with rabies and now in desperate need

Federal Health Office in Bern searches for the potentially infected

A tourist couple from Switzerland may have been infected with rabies after coming in contact with an infected bat. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has now launched a public appeal to locate the couple. Because the unsuspecting tourists do not know about their eventual rabies infection. The pair must be found as quickly as possible, because untreated rabies ends fatally.

The American Health Authorities (CDC) have warned the FOPH that the Florida couple was in contact with infected bats, possibly infected with the rabies virus. The couple had picked up a bat from the ground while on vacation in the city of Naples, Florida, and took it to an animal clinic, where the animal was tested positive for rabies one day later. But the couple could not be contacted anymore and so they do not know about the rabies threat.

The Swiss authorities are looking for a tourist couple who may have become infected with rabies during a holiday in the US. The couple had contact with a bat, which later tested positive for rabies.
(Image: Geza Farkas / fotolia.com)

Who is wanted?

It should be about a man and a woman from Switzerland. The man is according to the official information between 50 and 60 years old and works in a pest control company. Further information is not available to the authorities. Authorities urge the couple to get in touch with the family doctor or the Federal Office of Public Health as soon as possible.

Rabies is life threatening

Rabies, also called rabies or rage disease, is caused by a virus that can be transmitted through the saliva. For example, bite injuries or salivary contact with skin or mucosal lesions may cause the virus to switch to another host. But it can take several months for rabies to erupt. Untreated rabies infections are life threatening. As soon as the first symptoms of illness appear, the disease takes a fatal course. Before that, it can be successfully prevented with post-exposure vaccination.

Rabies symptoms

The virus attacks the central nervous system and can cause paralysis, confusion and delirium in advanced disease. As a result of a pharyngeal paralysis, foam can form in front of the mouth and it can occur in infected rage and screaming. (Vb)