First Rabies patient to survive

She received a desperate and a novel type of therapy by Dr Rodney Willoughby, Associate Professor of Paediatrics.

Doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin put the critically ill girl into a drug induced coma and gave her 4 types of antiviral drugs.

Dr Charles Rupprecht of the disease control agency called the recovery as – Historic.

The result of this treatment has to be repeated elsewhere before the therapy could be considered a cure or a treatment.

Jeanna Giese was bitten by a bat at a church service on September 12, 2004.She did not visit a doctor and was not vaccinated as is standard medical practice for such exposure. On Oct 18, 2004 she was admitted to hospital with fluctuating consciousness and other symptoms typical of Rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus in the secretions from an infected animal. The vaccine against this disease stimulated antibodies to the virus and thus prevents the development of the disease. The vaccine has to be administered within days of the exposure.

Jeanna Giese is now a 21-year-old biology major, graduate at the Lakeland College campus in Sheboygan.