NEWS RELEASE

Rabies Awareness

6/18/07

        Reports of rabies outbreaks and rabies scares seem to make the news every year, and whether you live in a rural area, suburb or city, it’s natural to be concerned.

      “The most effective way to protect yourself from rabies is to learn about rabies and how to reduce the risk of exposure to infection of yourself, your pets and your livestock,” said Dianne Wolff, RN of the Diagnostic and Treatment Center at Greene County Public Health.

        Rabies affects the central nervous system, causing paralysis and ultimately death in infected animals. Symptoms include changes in behavior, including aggression and agitation and also excessive salivation. 

        Rabies has been present in New York for more than 25 years. The rabies virus can infect any mammal, including dogs, cats, livestock, small wildlife and humans. The vast majority of rabies cases reported each year occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

        While the majority of rabies cases involve wild animals, keeping vaccinations current on dogs and cats, including indoor cats, is crucial to prevention.  Pets can act as a bridge between a rabid wild animal and a person, acquiring the virus through a bite and then bringing the virus into the household.

       “Determining an animal’s rabies status is essential when there is contact between a potentially rabid animal and a person or pet,” Ms. Wolff said.

         Prevention and avoidance are key when dealing with wildlife. Raccoons and skunks are attracted to developed areas and neighborhoods and capitalize on artificial food sources such as garbage, compost, gardens, bird feed and pet food. Skunks are particularly fond of white lawn grubs, the larvae of Japanese beetles. Many animals also take advantage of man-made shelters such as crawl spaces under garden sheds or decks, with raccoons frequently nesting in chimneys and attics that are not capped or sealed. By eliminating both artificial food sources and shelter, the chances of encountering raccoons and skunks around your home and yard will be greatly reduced.

  Additional tips for preventing rabies include:

• Vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets and livestock for rabies and keep vaccinations up-to date. Contact your veterinarian for details.
• Keep pets under direct supervision in a yard or on a leash to minimize contact with wild animals.
•  Keep a safe distance from wildlife such as skunks, bats, raccoons and foxes. 
•  Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or pet food. 
•   Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick or injured animals – call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, nuisance wildlife control officer, or animal control officer. 
•   Teach children to never approach unfamiliar dogs, cats or wildlife, even if they appear friendly.
•   Report animals acting strangely to your local dog or animal control officer, or local health agency. 
•   Treat any animal bites with soap and water and contact your health care provider immediately.
•   If a bat is found near a sleeping person, young child, or anyone with mental incapacitation, contact your local health department immediately. Bats have such small teeth even unnoticed contact with bats has led to rabies infection.
•   Use caution with a pet you suspect may have been in a fight with a wild animal. Handle with gloves and contact a veterinarian.
•  Bat proof your home by repairing screens, vents and other areas where bats may gain access. 
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•  If an animal inflicts a bite or scratch, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and call your health care provider and your local health agency for details on testing.  For more information on rabies, call Greene County Public Health at 518-719-3600 or visit the New York State Department of Health web site at www.nyhealth.gov.