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Rabies Problems Increasing -
US And World Update

From Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
9-16-9
 
Sen. Jungbauer Undergoing Rabies Shots 
By T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
9-15-9
 
 
Sen. Mike Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, was recently bitten under the eye by a bat when going into one of sheds he has on his property. The bat got away, so Jungbauer, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, is scheduled for a series of rabies shots.
 
According to his Senate office, the senator already received his first set of shots - in the face and in the stomach - and is scheduled for more shots later this week. Then Jungbauer faces three more series of shots.
 
According to a legislative assistant, the senator is feeling a little unwell today as a result of the shots.  Even so, Jungbauer is planning to run two 5K races in upcoming days. 
 
http://hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10706&Itemid=1
 
 
Peyton Horse Get Rabies - First In 25 Years 
Brian Newsome
9-15-9
 
A horse in Peyton was euthanized after contracting rabies, the first equine case in Colorado in at least 25 years, the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment said Tuesday.
 
Health officials suspect the horse contracted the disease from a skunk on the property. There have been half a dozen confirmed cases of rabid skunks in eastern El Paso County in recent months.
 
"Rabies infection in horses is rare," said Public Health Director Kandi Buckland, in a news release. "We anticipate that the infection was caused by skunk rabies, which greatly concerns us because it would indicate that rabies is not only spreading in the county, but also crossing animal species and increasing the risk to people."
 
Rabies is historically rare in Colorado and usually transmitted by bats, but in the last year a strain transmitted by skunks has made its way west from the Midwest. El Paso County's first rabid skunk since 1970 was discovered this summer.
 
Horse owner and veterinary technician Diann Bukowski, at the Animal Hospital of Falcon, said people tend to stay current with rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats but horses, until now, were thought to be safe from the viral disease.
 
"Vaccinating horses is not very routine," she said. She added that is likely going to change with news of this horse. "I'm considering doing my own."
 
She said it should be easy to find a vaccine, although people who want to vaccinate livestock will need to go to a large-animal vet. the Animal Hospital doesn't vaccinate large animals, but vaccines for pets are $22 for a 3-year dose.
 
To combat rabies, the health department recommends vaccines for horses and other high-value livestock.
 
Other recommendations:
 
- Don't feed wild animals or allow your pets around them. Make sure children stay away from wild animals.
 
- Contact the vet if a pet is bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
 
- Call a doctor immediately if you suspect you've been exposed to rabies.
 
- Stay away from an animal exhibiting bizarre behavior, such as a nocturnal animal like a skunk wandering about during the day.
 
- If you must remove a dead skunk on your property, wear rubber gloves or lift the carcass with a shovel or other tool, and double-bag it for the trash.
 
http://www.gazette.com/articles/rabies-62089-horse-health.html
 
 
Rabies Cases Among Cats on the Rise
 
 
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., (PRNewswire-USNewswire) -- While reported cases of rabies in the United States dropped in 2008, veterinarians and public health officials warn that an increase in the number of reported cases in cats poses a health risk to both animals and people.
 
There were 6,841 reported cases of animal rabies in the United States and Puerto Rico in 2008, according to a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Sept. 15, 2009, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The number represents a 3.1 percent decrease from the 7,060 rabies cases in animals reported to the CDC in 2007. There were two cases of rabies in humans in 2008, up from one case reported in 2007.
 
According to the CDC report, rabies continues to affect wildlife much more than it does domestic animals. Wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, accounted for 93 percent of all rabies cases reported in 2008, the report states.
 
More work needs to be done, however, when it comes to controlling rabies in pets, especially cats and dogs. Cats led the list of domestic animals with reported cases of rabies in 2008. According to the CDC report, there were 294 reported cases of rabies in cats last year, up about 12 percent from the 262 reported cases in 2007. Dog-related cases totaled 75 in 2008, down from 93 in 2007.
 
Jesse Blanton, an epidemiologist at the CDC, said cats have more interaction with wildlife, where they are prone to being bitten by a rabid animal, and they aren't getting the vaccinations they need.
 
"The CDC's general belief is that people are doing a good job vaccinating their dogs, but not their cats," Blanton said. "We have controlled canine rabies through the vaccination of domestic dogs, so we know that vaccinating works."
 
The belief that cats aren't getting their necessary shots is supported by data from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) report that indicates 36.3 percent of U.S. cat-owning households did not visit a veterinarian in 2006. In contrast, the report, "U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook," indicates that 17.3 percent of dog-owning households did not visit a veterinarian in 2006.
 
The simple act of vaccinating a pet, Blanton said, provides protection to the animal and the humans with whom it may come in contact. Veterinarians can vaccinate dogs and cats, and they will advise clients on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination needed.
 
Rabies remains a threat worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization. The release of the CDC report comes at an opportune time for continued public education, as World Rabies Day is approaching on Sept. 28. World Rabies Day, now in its third year, aims to raise awareness about the public health impact of human and animal rabies. For more information on World Rabies Day, visit the AVMA's World Rabies Day Web page.
 
The AVMA and its more than 78,000 member veterinarians are engaged in wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health.
 
SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association
 
David Kirkpatrick of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
+1-847-285-6782, Cell: +1-847-409-0519, dkirkpatrick@avma.org
 
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121372+15-Sep-2009+PRN20090915
 
 
MOBERLY, MO -- The Randolph County Health Department announces that a bat, found in the south central part of the county, has tested positive for rabies. 
 
"The bat was found in the courtyard of a county school, but fortunately was picked up by maintenance before any of the children happened upon it," stated Janet Murray, Environmental Health Supervisor. "Since it was acting strangely, we decided it would be best to submit to the State Lab for testing, and sure enough, it was positive."
 
According to Janet Murray, Environmental Health Supervisor, Randolph County Health Department, anyone who has been bitten by an animal, particularly a stray dog or cat or a wild animal, should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes. If possible, and without further injury, try to capture or confine the biting animal so that it can be quarantined or tested for rabies (depending upon the species of biting animal). If the animal is destroyed, avoid damaging the head since the brain is the only specimen that can be tested for the presence of the rabies virus. Persons should contact their physician to see if medical care (antibiotics, tetanus booster, etc.) is needed, and to have a rabies risk assessment made. They should also contact their local health department to seek assistance in obtaining proper disposition of the biting animal.
 
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, raccoons 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 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 Janet "It's often as close as the raccoon that walked through the back yard."
 
Special attention should be paid to bites from bats since their small, needle-like teeth could result in a wound that goes unnoticed or is ignored. Although less than one percent of wild bats have rabies, almost all human rabies deaths in the United States occur from exposure to rabid bats. A Missouri man died from rabies in November 2008 due to a bite from an infected bat. The man did not seek medical treatment following the bite, underscoring the necessity of consulting with medical professionals following such exposures. Persons who might have been bitten by a bat found in their home should consult with their local public health agency or animal control office to determine if testing of the bat is necessary. This could keep these persons from having to undergo the anti-rabies series of shots, which might be the recommendation if the bat is simply caught and released without testing.
 
"Rabies is not just a problem in Randolph County," according to Ms. Murray. "It can be found in any county in Missouri. Over the past 10 years, Missouri has seen almost 50 rabid animals each year, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. This number includes only those animals tested because they bit either a person or someone's pet ­ there were undoubtedly many more rabid animals that went undetected. Most of the animals found to be rabid during this time period were bats and skunks, but the total also included foxes, cats, dogs, cattle, horses, and one goat."
 
Anti-Rabies Regimen
 
Following a potential exposure to rabies, there is normally a window of opportunity (usually measured in days) in which the patient can receive a series of shots to keep him/her from developing rabies. The current series of shots is very effective if given soon after the exposure, and is fewer in number with far less side effects than the previous anti-rabies regimen. However, the current series is not without some discomfort and risk, and averages about $3500 per series per patient. The shots are not effective once symptoms develop.
 
 
Community 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.
 
Personal pets should not be handled without protection directly after being exposed to wildlife due to the potential for carrying residual saliva from the infected animal. Information pertaining to rabies can be found on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Rabies.  For more information on rabies in Randolph County, contact Janet Murray, R.E.H.S. Environmental Health Supervisor 660-263-6643 Ext. 3043 
 
http://www.moberlymonitor.com/news/x786214379/Rabid-bat-is-found-in-Randolph-County
 
  
Skunk in Varina tests positive for rabies
 
Associated Press
09/15/09 10:20 AM EDT
 
VARINA, VA. - A dead skunk found in a yard in Varina has tested positive for rabies.
 
Police say the skunk was reported to the Henrico Police Animal Protection Unit on Saturday. Test results received Tuesday confirmed the skunk was rabid.
 
Two dogs that were in the yard will be quarantined at the residence for 45 days. Both dogs had rabies vaccinations.
 
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/41787/cary-reports-first-rabies-case-this-year
 
Wake County Story
 
By Town of Cary, Press Release, 9 hours, 12 minutes ago
Updated: Sep. 15 10:06 am
ShareThis
Tweet This! <http://mync.com/site/41787/>http://mync.com/site/41787/
CARY, N.C. -
 
Cary Animal Control officials have confirmed the town's first case of rabies in Cary.
 
The last reported case in Cary was in November 2007.
 
On Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m., residents living in Cambridge Apartments in Cary near Ludington Court reported a fox behaving strangely. Cary Police responded and transported the dead fox for testing at the State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh. The Town of Cary was notified on Sept. 14 that the fox was infected with the rabies virus.
 
You are advised to use caution when dealing with any animal that may be suspicious or one that may have come in contact with a suspicious animal. Wear gloves and other protective clothing when helping injured pets, and stay away from any bodily fluids, especially saliva. As always, have your pets vaccinated against the disease. Seek help immediately if you or your pets are bitten by any animal, and notify officials as soon as possible.
 
If you suspect a rabid animal, contact Cary Animal Control immediately at (919) 319-4517 or call your local veterinarian.
 
 
Bali Woman Dies Of Dog Bite
 
Date: Tue 15 Sep 2009
Source: The Bali Post
A 3rd victim of suspect rabies, a 47-year-old woman, died on Mon 14 Sep 2009 in Sanglah Hospital [Tabanan Regency]. She had been bitten by her own dog when it suddenly ran amok in her kitchen on 20 Jul 2009. She was bitten on her right arm and was rushed to the health clinic in Kediri where she received a tetanus injection. The dog was 3 years old.
 
A month after she had been bitten, the victim reported feeling unwell. On Sat 12 Sep 2009 she experienced symptoms such as drastic sweating around her head, chest pains, and difficulty in breathing. She was then taken to Tabanan Hospital at 23.00 hr and received emergency treatment and 2 types of medication. Afterwards she was told to rest at home.
 
When her condition did not improve she was taken to Sanglah Hospital on Sun 13 Sep 2009, where she was placed in an isolation room. It appears that she was already paralyzed and could not be resuscitated, finally dying on 14 Sep 2009. Her husband revealed that a few weeks after having been bitten, that his wife became scared of water and drafts, but was always thirsty and feverish.
 
On Mon 14 Sep 2009, 6 officials of the Tabanan Health Department visited the woman's home and interviewed her husband, but the reason for this is unclear.
 
As of today [15 Sep 2009], there have been 3 fatal cases of suspect rabies: 2 victims came from Desa Buahan, Tabanan, and one from Kediri, Tabanan. http://www.balipost.co.id/mediadetail.php?module=detailberita&kid=2&id=20038
 
 
Date: Sun 13 Sep 2009 Source: NorthEscambia.com [edited]
 
 
A rabies alert continues for North Escambia after one person was   bitten by a rabid fox and 2 raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for   rabies.
 
Robert Merritt, director of environmental health for the Escambia   County Health Department, said that a dog was bitten by a rabid   raccoon on Crabtree Church Road in Molino in May [2009], and a dog was   bitten by a rabid raccoon on Handy Road in Cottage Hill last month   [August 2009]. He said a fox that bit a person somewhere in North   Escambia last month also tested positive for rabies, but, due to   patient privacy laws, he was not able to identify in which community   the incident occurred. [This means that the people most at risk may   not know there is a rabies problem in their area. Protecting one   person's privacy leads to a potentially higher risk for everyone else.   - Mod.JW]
 
The dogs bitten by the rabid raccoons were quarantined, while the   person bitten by the rabid fox is undergoing treatment. Dr John Lanza,   director of the Escambia County Health Department today [13 Sep 2009]   issued a rabies alert for the central to northern geographical region   of Escambia County, Florida. This is in response to 3 wild animals   that tested positive for rabies.
 
Escambia residents should be aware that rabies is present in the wild   animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated.   The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is   active in Escambia County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness   to the public, but they should not give a false sense of security to   areas that have not been named as under an alert. This rabies alert   will last for a total of 60 days and covers all of central and   northern Escambia County from Muscogee Road north to the Alabama State   line. [It is not clear why an alert lasts only 60 days when according   to the report rabies has been present there since May. - Mod.JW]
 
An animal with rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that   have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should   be vaccinated against rabies and humans should avoid all wildlife   contact, especially with raccoons, bats, and foxes.
 
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is usually fatal to   warm-blooded animals and to humans. The only treatment for human   exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies   immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure   will protect an exposed person from the disease.
 
The following advice is issued - all pets should have current rabies immunizations; - avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, and foxes; - all persons with any unusual exposure incident, or bites, with a   wild animal should be evaluated by a physician to determine their need   for treatment; - secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting   wild animals; - do not leave pet food outside as this practice also attracts wild animals; - for questions regarding the health of an animal, contact a veterinarian; - veterinarian staff and animal control staff should be alert for   animals encountered with signs suspicious for rabies and contact the   Escambia County Health Department's Environmental Health Division at   (850) 595-6700.
 
For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of   Health website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/rabies/rabies-index.html
 
http://www.northescambia.com/?p=10821
 
 
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland
Residents should be reminded that rabies changes an animal. Nocturnal   animals may be found in the daylight. Docile animals may be more   aggressive while energetic animals may be more quiet and cuddly. The   veterinary community has an opportunity to offer low cost rabies   drives in association with county public health awareness campaigns.
 
Cats, dogs, and horses need vaccinating. Cattle, sheep, and goat   producers should vaccinate their animals, as they are susceptible to   the virus. It takes only one rabid skunk or raccoon biting one of the   production animals to cost a producer more than the cost of the   vaccines. Rabies in cattle mimics other diseases and cattle can expose   a number of people before the disease is diagnosed. - Mod.TG
 
The US state of Florida can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail   interactive map at http://healthmap.org/r/00OV Escambia County is the westernmost county in the state. It can be   found at (1) in the map of the Northwest counties of Florida at http://www.floridacountiesmap.com/counties_list.shtml
 
RABIES - RUSSIA (02): (OMSK) BOVINE, HUMAN EXPOSURE
 
***************************************************
 
Date: Thu 10 Sep 2009
Source: RIA (Russian News & Information Agency) Omsk Press [in  
Russian, trans. Corr.ATS, edited]
Cattle Developed Sign Of Rabies
 
A quarantine has been imposed in the Kolosovskiy Region [district] of   the Omsk Oblast [province]. Transportation of meat into or out of the   region was banned after 4 cows died as a result of rabies virus   infection and 24 people who had been in contact with these animals are   being kept under medical observation.
 
The local TV channel has reported that all nearby farms in the   Kolosovskiy Region are also under quarantine. Nina Onishenko, a   veterinarian, stated that a suspected rabid cow had been identified   after examination of the herd. There was some suspicion at first that   this cow had been poisoned, and it was kept in isolation. Subsequently   this cow died and several others developed signs of rabies. People who   had been in contact with these animals were immunised as a   precautionary measure. The entire herd has now received rabies   vaccination and the pasture has been disinfected.
 
http://omskpress.ru/news/6132/korovy_proyavili_priznaki_beshenstva/
 
--
 
Communicated by
ProMED-RUS
promed-rus@promedmail.org
The source of the infection, presumably contact with wild animals, is   not identified in this report. Further information would be appreciated.
 
The Omsk Oblast is located in the southern part of the West Siberian   Plain midway along the Irtysh River. It is a rolling plain with   elevations of 100-140 m (328-460 ft); ridged uplands (crests) are   typical of the southern half of the region, while broad expanses of   swamp are characteristic of the north.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the Omsk Oblast of Russia  
can be accessed at
http://healthmap.org/r/00OG>. - Mod.CP
 
Rabies can be found almost anywhere there are mammals, including the boroughs of New York City.
Portions of this comment were extracted from:
<http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about.html>http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about.html.
New York may be seen on a map at: http://www.healthmap.org/en. - Mod.TG
 
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