Avoiding rabies: Stay smart once warm weather starts

  • Published
  • 355th Medical Group
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz --  As warmer weather approaches and outdoor activities resume, you will start to see the re-emergence of Tucson wildlife such as skunks, bats, foxes and javelinas. You may be tempted to handle, feed or attract the wildlife, placing yourself at unnecessary risk for exposure to rabies.

In 2010, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 102 laboratory confirmed rabid animals, and Pima County accounted for 27 of these. And it's not just the wildlife - domestic animals such as cats, dogs, cows and horses can also transmit rabies to you if they have been bitten by an infected animal.

The rabies virus is transmitted through a bite or saliva-infected scratch from a rabid animal. The virus infects the central nervous system, causing disease in the brain and, ultimately, death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms in infected animals may first appear as fatigue and vomiting before quickly progressing to lack of muscle coordination, paralysis, difficulty breathing and swallowing, excessive salivation, fear of drinking water and aggression. The infected animal will generally die within seven days after onset of symptoms.

Follow these tips to prevent exposure to rabies:

· Keep vaccinations current for all of your domestic animals. Contact the Veterinary Treatment Facility at 228-3529 to schedule an appointment.

· Keep your domestic animals indoors or under direct supervision. If they are bitten by a wild or stray animal, seek veterinary assistance immediately.

· You should never handle or feed unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic. If you observe strange behavior such as nocturnal animals at daytime, wild animals appearing tame, or domestic animals becoming vicious or unresponsive, do not approach the animal.

· Do not adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health.

· Prevent bats from entering your home. In Arizona, bats present the most common source of rabies exposures because rabid bats often fall to the ground where they are easily accessible to people and pets. If you have had direct contact, or possible direct contact (woke up to a bat in the room), seek immediate medical attention.

If you are bitten by an animal, whether domestic, wild or stray, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention. Rabies is nearly always a fatal disease in humans, but can be successfully prevented by seeking medical attention and starting treatment promptly after exposure.

For more information on rabies, talk to your healthcare provider or visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/rabies.