Teen rabies survivor goes home

A Wisconsin teenager believed to be the first person in the world to survive rabies without a vaccination was discharged from hospital on Saturday.

Jeanna Giese, 15, was bitten by a bat in September, but didn't immediately seek treatment.

When she started showing symptoms in mid-October, doctors at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin started an experimental treatment, including an induced coma.

After 11 weeks in hospital Giese regained weight, strength and co-ordination, and will continue with physical and occupational therapy.

Besides Giese, only five people in the world are known to have survived the rabies virus after showing symptoms. However, unlike Giese, the five had either been vaccinated or received vaccine shots before showing symptoms.

One of Giese's doctors says the results must be duplicated in another person before it can be considered a rabies treatment.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is re-evaluating its approach to human rabies because of the case.

An infection of the brain and spinal cord, rabies is caused by a virus usually transmitted by a bite or scratch from an infected animal. In Canada and the U.S., rabies most commonly involves raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes and bats, says Health Canada.

At least 22 people have died of rabies in Canada since 1925.