Awareness Campaign Shines Light on Rabies in Missouri

Pet Owners Urged to Update Vaccinations

St. Charles, MO (June 25, 2003) –Now that summer is here Missourians are engaging in outdoor activities that could increase their contact with wild animals and stray pets. Missouri state and local health officials are concerned about the possibility of exposure to rabies from such activities and are conducting a Rabies Awareness Campaign.

Rabies is a disease of mammals and is transmitted primarily through bites. Over 90 percent of reported rabies cases are wild animals commonly seen in neighborhoods and backyards, such as bats, skunks, and foxes. Vaccinated pets are the barrier between those animals and loved ones and public health experts want pet owners to know that by protecting their pets they also are protecting their loved ones.

Missouri state health officials urge pet owners to visit their veterinarians and update their pets’ rabies vaccinations. “Pet owners need to understand how close the threat of rabies is to their families,” said Dr. Howard Pue, Missouri State Public Health Veterinarian. “It’s often as close as the skunk that walked through the back yard. This Rabies Awareness Campaign will alert people to the facts about rabies and encourage them to take precautions such as visiting a veterinarian and updating their pet’s vaccinations.”

“The number of animal rabies cases in the United States tends to increase dramatically every few years,” said Dr. Richard Ford, a professor of medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, and a former NBC television animal health contributor. The country is experiencing such an increase now, and Missouri has its share of cases. All areas of the state are affected, with bats and skunks making up the majority of rabid animals seen each year. “Rabies remains a persistent threat in Missouri and should not be taken lightly,” said Pue.

“Most of the recent human rabies deaths in the United States were associated with bat bites, and in many of these instances the people didn’t even know they had been infected. We need to educate people so they are aware of the animals that carry the rabies virus and how to protect themselves.”

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Rabies Awareness

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“Wild animals that are found in our backyards can come in contact with our families and pets,” Ford said. “Persons bitten by a wild animal or stray pet should consult their physician. If your pet has encountered a skunk, bat or other animal that might be rabid, talk with your veterinarian and make sure all of your pet’s vaccinations are current. Public education is vital to this process.”

About Rabies Disease

Rabies is a deadly viral infection of the central nervous system and poses a serious health threat to people and animals.

The disease is difficult to diagnose in people because of its variable incubation period. Infected persons must receive medical attention before the onset of symptoms. Once symptoms appear, there is no effective treatment (rabies in humans is almost invariably fatal).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human deaths in the United

states associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, usually because

they are unaware of their exposure to the infection.

Symptoms

Early symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, and a general feeling of discomfort. As the infection progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, and hallucinations. The condition is extremely painful and death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.

Prevention

· Ensure dogs, cats, and ferrets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. Vaccinations are also available for horses, cattle, and sheep. The effectiveness of animal vaccines is the main reason for the nationwide decline in rabies cases among people and domestic animals.

· Keep pets under control; do not allow them to run loose.

· Avoid contact with stray pets and wild animals; do not keep wild animals or wild animal crosses as pets.

· Report wild animals exhibiting unusual behavior or stray pets to animal control officials.

For more information on rabies in Missouri, visit www.dhss.state.mo.us/Rabies/RabiesReports.htm.

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