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As warm weather approaches more people start to go out and enjoy
outdoor activities. Animals, particularly wild ones, also become more
active this time of the year.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department is
urging the residents to take precautions against animal bites and rabies
exposure.
Greenbrier County health official says seven rabies cases have been confirmed in the northwestern section of the county in the past four months.
Animal bites pose a risk to individuals of all ages, particularly
children. Animal bites are serious and can result in infection, scaring
and disfigurement, or for potential rabies exposure that would require
the administration of a post-exposure rabies vaccine.
Wild or stray animals are more likely to be infected with rabies since
domesticated animals are ordinarily vaccinated against the disease; but,
domestic cats, dogs, ferrets, and horses can become infected if they are
not vaccinated.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease that mainly affects the brain and
nervous system of humans and warm-blooded animals and can be transmitted
by a bite from a rabid animal.
It is a fatal disease if medical attention
is not sought immediately after exposure.
Most animal bites occur when
people come in contact with unfamiliar, stray, or wild animals or when
children are left unattended with pets.
If you are bitten by an animal you should do the following:
1. Immediately wash the site of the bite with warm and soapy water for
several minutes.
2. Consult with your doctor or a health care provider for further
evaluation and wound care.
4. If the animal was wild or stray you should also call the local
animal control officials to assist with
trapping, observing, and/or testing of the animal.
To avoid animal bites and rabies exposure the MOVHD recommends the
following preventive measures:
1-All dogs, cats and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies.
Consider vaccinating valuable livestock
and horses.
2-Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and
keeping dogs under direct
supervision.
3-Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets
that may not be properly cared
for or vaccinated regularly.
4-Don't feed or water your pets outside. Empty bowls can attract wild
and stray animals.
5-Keep your garbage securely covered. Open garbage will attract wild or
stray animals.
6-Wild animals should not be kept as pets. You can enjoy them from a
distance.
7-Never approach or handle a stray or wild animal, such as raccoon,
fox, skunk or bat.
8-Call animal control to remove all stray/wild animals from your
neighborhood since these animals may
not be vaccinated or ill.
9-If your pet has been bitten by another animal consult your
veterinarian immediately for possible
treatment, confinement and vaccination.
10-If you wake up in a room with a bat present, regardless of whether
there is evidence of a bite or
scratch, seek immediate medical attention. If possible trap the
bat for testing.
11-Teach your children not to handle or approach unfamiliar animals,
not to run from a dog and remain
motionless if approached by an unfamiliar dog, not to play with a
dog unless supervised by an adult,
and not to disturb a dog or cat that is sleeping, eating, or
caring for puppies or kittens.
For more information you may contact Sheriff Ibrahim, Regional
Epidemiologist at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department with any
questions or concerns at (304) 485-7374 Extension 177 or visit the
website at www.movhd.com
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