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Preventive Health Services
Carol Paluck, Supervisor
Telephone: (315)
376-5453
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM |
Services we offer:
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What is
Rabies?
Rabies is a
very dangerous and deadly viral infection that affects the nervous system of
mammals. Rabies is usually spread through a bite from an infected animal. Once
you are bitten, it can take a couple weeks or many months for symptoms to
appear, but once you have symptoms, rabies is almost always fatal for both
humans and animals. If an animal bites you or someone you know, you should be
given a vaccination as soon as possible, just in case the animal was infected
with rabies.
Symptoms for
Humans:
- Irritability
- Headache
- Itching or
pain at the site of exposure (usually a bite wound)
- Paralysis
- Spasms of
throat muscles
- Convulsions
- Delirium
- Death
Symptoms for
Animals:
- Fever
- Changes in
behavior
- Cravings to
eat anything, including inedible items
- Constant
growling or barking
- Dilated
pupils
-
Disorientation
- Episodes of
aggression
- No fear of
natural enemies (i.e. wild animals might not be afraid of people)
- Roaming
- Seizures
- Trembling
and lack of coordination
- Dropping of
the jaw
- Excessive
drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Paralysis
- Death
Where is
Rabies Found?
Rabies has
become less common among dogs and other pets thanks to widespread vaccination
programs here in the U.S. and Canada. However, many wild animals in this area
can still carry rabies. These animals include bats, raccoons, skunks, and red &
gray foxes, but any mammal can become infected. If you happen to see any
animals (wild or domestic) that exhibit any of the symptoms listed above,
contact the Lewis County Public Health Department immediately.
How Do I
Protect Myself, My Family and My Pets?
- Make sure
your pets are vaccinated and receive booster shots when they are due. Dogs
and cats will be protected for 3 years if they are vaccinated after 3 months
of age and receive a booster shot one year later. Ferrets can be vaccinated
annually.
- Avoid any
contact with wild animals. Do not handle, capture or feed wildlife.
- Take extra
precaution around animals that are unusually tame, aggressive or paralyzed.
- Watch out
for nocturnal animals that are out in the daytime, like raccoons, skunks and
bats.
- Keep your
property free of things that might attract wild animals like trash, pet food
and birdseed.
- Livestock
like cattle, horses and sheep should also be vaccinated. If vaccinating all
of your livestock is too expensive you should vaccinate any animals that are
especially valuable, animals that often come into contact with people and/or
any animals that are housed in structures that might be occupied by raccoons
or bats.
- If you are a
hunter be aware of your surroundings. Never capture, skin or eat an animal
that is acting abnormal. Also, bring disposable gloves with you for handling
and skinning animals or when you are handling game meat. Remember, all meat
should be cooked thoroughly before eating.
What Do I Do
if Myself, My Family or My Pets are Exposed?
Exposure means
that you have been scratched or bitten by a wild or sick animal, or that you
have gotten saliva from an animal that may have rabies into an open wound or
mucous membrane. If you believe that you or someone you know has been exposed:
- Wash the
exposed wound thoroughly with soap and running water.
- Seek medical
attention immediately. DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR!! By the time
symptoms are apparent, it is too late, and the virus will likely result in
death.
- If possible,
try to capture the rabies suspect animal without further exposure. Be careful
not to damage the animal’s head. This way, authorities can observe the animal
and/or test it for rabies.
- Disinfect
any surface or items that have been contaminated with tissues or fluids from
the rabies-suspect animal with a fresh solution of 1 part household bleach to
9 parts water.
- A dead
rabies-suspect animal can be kept on ice and double bagged in plastic until it
can be tested.
If your pet has
been exposed, but has received proper vaccinations, a booster shot is needed
within five days of the exposure. This exposure must also be reported to the
Lewis County Health Department. Any animals that have been exposed but have not
received proper vaccinations will need to be confined strictly for 6 months or
destroyed immediately. This is why we urge you to get your pets vaccinated!
Bats: A Few
Special Precautions
- Any physical
contact with a bat could mean you have been exposed to rabies.
- Some people
may have been exposed without knowing. This can happen to:
- Folks who
were asleep
- An
unattended child
- A person
under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- A person
who has a sensory or mental handicap
In
these cases, there may be a need for post-exposure treatment.
- If any
person or pet has been in contact with the bat, you should try to capture it
without harming the head. To capture a bat:
1.
Turn on room lights and close the
windows, doors and closets.
2.
Wait for the bat to land.
3.
Wearing gloves, try to capture the bat
by placing a coffee can or pail over the bat.
4.
Carefully slide a piece of cardboard
under the container to trap the bat.
5.
Firmly hold the cardboard in place and
use tape to secure it.
If there is any
chance that the bat came into contact with a person or pet, save the bat so that
it can be tested. If there was absolutely no chance that the bat came in into
contact with a person or pet then you can release the bat outside, preferably at
night and away from populated areas.
Video:
How to safely catch a bat. Download
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For More
Information:
The New
York State Department of Health:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/rabies/fact_sheet.htm
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
Rabies Control:
Our efforts to control
this disease to prevent human and domestic animal rabies include the
following on an annual basis:
- Rabies vaccine clinics for
pets in seven county locations each spring, and a clinic in January and
September at Countryside Vet Clinic where animal vaccination is offered for a
donation.
- Provision of education
materials and presentation to schools by Cliff Cook.
- Public Service Announcements
and paid ads on radio and in papers.
- News releases about cases and
accompanying educational information to area media.
- Distribution of materials to
town clerks' offices to be given to residents applying for dog licenses and
hunting licenses.
- Distribution of materials to
taxidermists and deer butchers.
- Offering pre-exposure vaccine
to trappers at cost.
- Inclusion of rabies
information at every Health Fair attended by Public Health staff.
- Follow up on human and pet
exposure reports.
- Provision of educational
materials and advice to residents and health care providers.
Lewis County was also
included in the Cornell University Bait Drop Research Project.
Residents of the county
are encouraged to call Lewis County Public Health Agency for
information about rabies or if they experience a possible exposure.
If you would like to read
more about Rabies, its symptoms, and preventive measures,
click on the "Communicable Disease" link above.
