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Phone: 518-648-6497 Fax: 518-648-6143 Email: Nursing@HamiltonCountyNY.gov |
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It is common to find wild animals, especially young ones, in the spring and summer. Even though the may look cute and fuzzy, wild animals should never be considered as possible pets. If you should encounter a wild animal that is obviously injured or orphaned, you may wish to call a Wildlife Rehabilitator, who is a licensed volunteer by NYS DEC that is allowed to receive and treat distressed wildlife. A list of area rehabilitators is available at www.nyswrc.org/rehabbers.html#hamilton.
Wild animals can carry a number of potential health threats to humans and pets including rabies, Lyme disease, ticks, fleas, roundworm, tapeworms and other bacteria that can cause disease. It is important to keep children and pets away from wildlife for these reasons.
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. All mammals including humans can get rabies. Rabies is most often seen in raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.
How do humans get rabies?
The rabies virus can be transmitted to humans through the saliva of a rabid animal if they are bitten. Although rare, transmission can also occur if saliva or nervous tissue from a rabid animal gets into a scratch, wound or mucous membrane (eyes, nose, mouth).
Can humans be exposed to rabies and not know it?
It is possible that a person may be exposed to rabies from a bat and not realize it. The following are examples of situations where exposure to rabies could have occurred and should be discussed with a doctor or your local public health department: ¨ contact between a bat and a person’s bare skin ¨ bat found in a room with a sleeping person ¨ bat found in a room with an unattended child ¨ Bat found close to an unattended young child outdoors ¨ Bat found in a room with a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with other sensory or mental impairment
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How is a person treated if they are exposed to rabies?
First, the wound should be washed with lots of soap and water as soon as possible. After washing the wound, the person should then call their healthcare provider and have a doctor evaluate and treat the wound if necessary. Next, the local public health department should be contacted, where someone will assist in determining whether rabies treatment is needed. Treatment for rabies exposure consists of one dose of rabies immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine. If treatment is started promptly following a rabies exposure, rabies can be prevented. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the disease almost always results in death. What should be done if a bat is found indoors?
If a bat is found in any situation where a person or pet may have had contact with it, the bat should be captured and kept until the local public health department can be contacted to determine whether the bat should be tested for rabies. A video on how to catch a bat is available on the NYS Department of Health’s website by clicking here. To avoid losing a bat, leave one person in the room watching it with doors and windows closed, while another person goes to get a coffee can, lid, gloves or similar equipment to capture it. Your local health department may be contacted for advice on how to capture a bat and submit it for rabies testing. If it is certain the bat did not have contact with a person or pet, the bat can be allowed to leave through an open window. Do not exit the room until you observe the bat leaving through the window. Close the window when the bat leaves.
What can be done to protect your pets from rabies?
New York State law requires all cats, dogs and ferrets to be currently vaccinated against rabies. Initial vaccination must be done by the time the animal is four months of age, or as soon as the animal is acquired if it is older. After initial vaccinations, all animals must be revaccinated one year later and then every one, three or four years according to the type of vaccine used. Licensed rabies vaccines are also available for horses, cattle and sheep. Consult your veterinarian to discuss vaccinating your animals against rabies.
For more information on rabies visit the New York State Department of Health’s website at www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies. |