World Rabies Day is September 28th

 

Rabies is an acute viral infection that is usually caused by the bite of an infected animal. There must be a transmission of saliva into broken skin.

 

Dog-to-dog rabies was eliminated in the U.S. in 2007. However, rabies among wildlife (coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks) and bats still exists. Cats are the domestic animal most frequently reported rabid.

 

Rabies affects the central nervous system. Infected animals usually behave strangely:

        *anxious and aggressive               

        *weak and staring blankly

        *wild animals act friendly               

        *nocturnal animals seen during daytime

 

Rabies is a 100% fatal disease once clinical symptoms develop. Death usually occurs within 1 week after showing signs of infection.

    *worldwide, 55,000 people die every year from rabies

    *worldwide, one person dies of rabies every 10 minutes

    *7,000 animal rabies were reported in the U.S. in 2007

    *in the U.S. an average of 45,000 human cases are reported every year with 1 to 3 deaths

 

RABIES IN PREVENTABLE

 

VACCINATE all dogs, cats, horses and ferrets.

DON'T ALLOW your pets to roam freely where they can come into contact with wildlife.

DON'T FEED OR WATER your pets outside. Wild animals may be attracted to the bowls.

SECURELY cover garbage containers to discourage visits from wildlife.

REPORT ANY STRANGE behavior of wildlife to animal control.

 

If your pet is bitten, take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible and report the bite to animal control. If you are bitten, wash the wound thoroughly, contact your physician and report the bite to your local health department.