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RABIES - DON'T CHANCE IT!
POSTED ON
JULY 1, 2008
There has been a
shortage of rabies vaccines recently, which means the only people
who are currently eligible to receive the immunization are those who
have likely been exposed to rabies. In response to this shortage,
the Lewis County Public Health Department has issued a press release
to keep county residents properly informed, since prevention is the
most effective way of keeping this health problem in check.
Rabies continues to be a major public health concern because once
the signs and symptoms occur in animals and humans, the disease is
always fatal. The rabies virus can affect the central nervous system
of any mammal and causes paralysis, ultimately leading to death.
Symptoms of the virus usually appear within a few weeks to a few
months of the initial exposure. These include changes in behavior
like increased agitation or aggression as well as the notorious
“foaming at the mouth” which is the result of paralysis in the
animal’s throat causing excessive salivation.
The majority of reported cases are found in raccoons, skunks, bats
and foxes, yet no mammal is safe unless they have received proper
vaccination. You might not think you are at risk of rabies because
you probably don’t come into contact with wild animals on a daily
basis. However, your pets might have more friends than you know
about. Pets can easily come into contact with rabid animals, become
infected and then spread the illness to other pets and/or your
family.
Ok, so what? You’re a smart person; you’ve probably heard all of
this before. Nevertheless, there may be a few things about rabies
that you don’t know, and maybe that’s where we can help. When your
pet has proper vaccinations, they will only need a booster shot if
they get into a fight or are bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid
animal. However, if your pet has not been vaccinated and may have
been exposed, the choices become very difficult; you can either
place the animal in a strict 6-month quarantine at your own expense
or you can have your pet euthanized.
Additionally, if your pet has not received proper immunizations and
it bites or scratches someone, the pet must be placed in confinement
at the owner’s expense for 10 days at an approved facility. This is
in accordance with the New York State Confinement Law and as you can
imagine, confinement for a pet can end up being pricey (about
$100.00 in our area). It seems obvious that having your pet
vaccinated at a free rabies immunization clinic sponsored by the
county is a much more affordable route than the alternative.
You might be wondering what it means to have your pets “properly
vaccinated”. Pets are eligible for a rabies vaccination when they
are 3 months old. The follow up booster for this shot is given one
year after the first immunization. After that, the pet must be
vaccinated every 3 years. An animal that is even one day late
getting their booster shot is no longer considered properly
vaccinated. This is why it is important to keep your pet’s
vaccinations on record and up to date to make sure they remain
healthy.
Another common way people and pets can become infected is through
bats, since bats can carry rabies as well. About 3-4% of bats tested
have rabies. In fact, the most human rabies deaths in the U.S. are
caused by exposure from a rabid bat. This can be the most dangerous
way to contract rabies because you might not even know that you have
been exposed.
Since bats are nocturnal, they might enter your home at night while
you and your family are asleep. Bats also have very tiny sharp
teeth, so bite marks might not be obvious. Keep in mind that young
children, people with physical or mental handicaps and anyone under
the influence of drugs or alcohol might have come into contact with
a bat and may not be able to tell you. This is why if there is any
chance that you or a family member has had contact with a bat, make
sure you try to capture the bat (always wear protective gloves when
handling any rabies-suspect animal) without damaging it’s head so it
can be tested for rabies.
As a reminder, you should never feed, touch or handle wildlife. It
is also illegal to keep wild animals as pets; especially those known
to carry rabies like raccoons and foxes. In addition, any mammal can
have rabies; even cute babies can carry this deadly disease.
Therefore, you should always take serious precautions when it comes
to wild animals.
If you have any questions, feel free to visit the section of our
website that is dedicated solely to rabies awareness and prevention.
Here you will find information on the proper steps to capturing a
bat, where to find free rabies vaccination clinics for your pets as
well as other resources that will help you learn how to protect
yourself, your family and your best friend… your pet.
