Public Cautioned About Skunks with Rabies
May 29, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment has issued advisories to local
public health agencies and veterinarians regarding eight
confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife in the eastern part of
the state—including seven skunks and one coyote – over the
past year. Based upon the widely dispersed locations of
these rabies-positive specimens, it appears that skunk
rabies may be circulating in eastern areas of the state and
potentially moving west toward the Front Range.
Health officials are advising pet owners rural areas to be
sure their dogs’ and cats’ rabies vaccinations are up to
date. The advice comes after lab confirmation in the past
two months of four skunks with rabies: one in Kit Carson
County, one in Yuma County and two in eastern Adams County
(near Byers). Two of these skunks were involved in attacks
on domestic dogs. In 2007, rabid skunks were reported from
Prowers, Washington and Las Animas counties in eastern
Colorado.
“We have been closely monitoring the skunk population after
a coyote in Prowers County was confirmed to have had skunk
rabies last June,” said John Pape, an epidemiologist with
the department. “In cooperation with local agencies and the
Division of Wildlife, we have increased surveillance in
eastern Colorado to determine whether the skunk rabies is
widespread.”
Having pets vaccinated is the simplest and most effective
way to protect pets and family members from this deadly
disease. Pet owners are encouraged to contact their
veterinarian and get their pets up to date on vaccinations.
.”
Additional precautions to prevent possible exposure to
rabies include:
- Do not feed wild animals – this just brings them
closer to your family
- Teach children to stay away from wild or dead
animals.
- Do not allow pets to roam freely as this increases
the chance they may be exposed without your knowledge.
- Keep your pet’s rabies vaccination current and
maintain vaccination records.
- If a family member or pet has been bitten or
scratched by a wild animal, if possible safely contain
the wild animal in case rabies testing is needed. People
with possible rabies exposure should consult with a
physician without delay. Contact your veterinarian if
your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
In the past, isolated rabies cases in terrestrial animals
have turned out to be a bat strain of the rabies virus,
probably meaning the infected animal found and ate a bat,
according to Pape. This was presumed to be the source of the
infection in a rabid skunk found last year in Mesa County in
western Colorado.
“But in eastern Colorado we are seeing the skunk strain of
rabies circulating farther west than at anytime in the last
30 years,” Pape said. “The problem is skunks are highly
efficient at transmitting rabies to other animals like
pets.”
Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans
and other mammals, resulting in a fatal disease. The virus
is shed in the saliva of infected animals. People and
animals get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal or
contact with saliva from such an animal.
Pape said signs of rabies in animals include abnormal
behavior such as nocturnal animals being active in the day,
animals approaching humans or other animals, difficulty with
walking or movement, and unusual animal sounds such as
excessive bellowing in cows or hissing/chirping in bats.
Such signs indicate the animal is ill. Some animals with
rabies will be very aggressive (furious rabies) while others
may appear almost catatonic (dumb rabies).
Skunks and other wildlife should not be handled. If a wild
animal allows a person to approach and handle it, the animal
is probably ill or injured and will bite in self-defense. A
healthy animal usually will remain well hidden and avoid
human contact. Suspected rabid animals should be reported
immediately to the local public health or animal control
authorities.
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