|
Rabies is caused by a virus which can infect
all warm-blooded mammals, including man. The rabies virus is found in the saliva
of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by contamination of
an open cut.
Bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, foxes,
cats, and dogs represent about 95% of animals diagnosed with rabies in the
United States. Domestic farm animals and other wild animals may also become
infected. Rodents such as rats, mice, chipmunks, and squirrels are rarely
infected.
Rabid animals are usually either very vicious
and aggressive (“furious” rabies) or act stuporously and are partially or
totally paralyzed (“dumb” rabies). They often have trouble walking and may
appear to be “drunk”. People should stay away from all
wild and stray animals which are aggressive or appear to be sick. Some
wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs, may be infectious even
though they appear to be normal, and these animals should be avoided at all
times.
How to Protect Yourself from Rabies
Have Your Pet Vaccinated Against Rabies. Pets
can become infected with rabies through contact with rabid wild animals. Because
of this, it is important that your dog or cat have up-to-date rabies
vaccinations. Because a current trend in the United States indicates that there
has been a higher incidence of rabies in cats than in dogs in recent years,
rabies vaccination is especially important for cats. Cats left outdoors to roam
have a greater chance of exposure to rabid animals, but even indoor cats should
be vaccinated, as occasionally they may get out and/or wild animals, such as
bats or raccoons, may get into houses through open doors, windows, or uncapped
chimneys. You should get your pet vaccinated at a private veterinarian’s office
or at a free state/municipal-sponsored rabies clinic.
Do Not Feed or Handle Wild Animals. Especially
avoid contact with all bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, and foxes. It is
illegal in New Jersey to keep these wild animals as pets. Take measures to
prevent raccoons or bats from entering homes, barns, garages, and other
buildings. Store all trash or pet food kept outdoors in animal-resistant
containers.
Avoid Contact With Strays or Pets Other Than
Your Own. These animals may bite or scratch you and may not be vaccinated for
rabies. Report stray animals to your local health department so that the animal
control officer can take them to a shelter. Stray animals which are captured and
impounded are held for at least seven days so they can be reclaimed by their
owner.
What To Do If You Are Bitten
Immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly with
soap and water.
Get prompt medical attention from a physician
or hospital emergency room.
If you are bitten by a wild animal: Try to
confine and isolate, or kill the animal while taking care to prevent additional
bites and exposures. If captured, wild animals must be tested at the state
rabies laboratory. Human treatment to prevent rabies may be started immediately
or delayed until the testing results are known. In cases in which the animal is
unavailable for testing, a decision to start human preventive treatment is made
by the bite victim and his/her physician based on recommendations from the local
health department.
If you are bitten by a dog or cat or other
domestic animal: Obtain as much information about the animal as possible,
including owner name, address, and telephone number, a description of the
animal, and the animal’s vaccination status. Biting dogs and cats should be kept
under observation for 10 days from the time of the bite to ensure that they are
free of rabies; if already showing signs of rabies at the time of the bite, they
should be sacrificed immediately and tested for rabies. Dogs or cats which die
or are euthanized within 10 days after biting a person must be submitted for
rabies testing. Bites from other domestic animals (such as horses, cows, goats,
and sheep) will be evaluated by your local health department; these animals can
usually be observed for a period of 14 days to rule out the possibility of
rabies.
|
