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The Danger of Rabies
Summertime means spending more time enjoying the outdoors. Unfortunately, there may be some unfriendly creatures that want to join in the fun. Raccoons and other wild animals can often be found looking for food in trash cans or outdoor pet dishes this time of year. These animals may look innocent enough, but they can be dangerous and should be avoided.
One of the most dangerous diseases carried by wild animals is rabies. People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, although rare, to get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into the eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a medical urgency not an emergency. However, any wounds should be immediately washed and medical attention from a healthcare professional should be sought for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination.
So how can you protect yourself from getting rabies?
• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection for you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:
• Enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
• When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America where dogs are the major reservoir of rabies. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries. Before traveling abroad, consult with a health care provider, travel clinic, or your health department about the risk of exposure to rabies, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and how you should handle an exposure, should it arise.
Becoming infected with the rabies virus is something that can be avoided. By taking the proper precautions to protect yourself and your pets, you can minimize the risk of contracting this potentially dangerous disease.