Health Department and NPD issue rabies advisory
CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Health Department’s Public Health division, in concert with the Norwich City Police Department, has issued a rabies advisory.
“Rabies has been identified in local wildlife,” reads the advisory, “Any wild animal acting strangely in close proximity to residential areas should be considered dangerous.”
Authorities caution people to be on high alert as rabies is an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans via a bite from the infected or even through contaminated saliva. Any mammal animal can contract the virus, even creatures such as squirrels, although only larger animals are truly considered to be a threat. The most dangerous domestic animals are cats – in regards to the tranmission of rabies – as they tend to roam more often, and vaccines are rarely administrated to strays.
The vaccine is considered 100 percent effective if administrated in its entirety; however, if a pet has a row with an animal and it is covered in contaminated saliva, the virus can be transmitted.
“If a dog tangles with an animal, it can be covered in secondary saliva and often times pet owners first inclination is to hug their animals after they have been hurt,” said Chenango County Director of Environmental Health Isaiah Sutton. Even if it’s a questionable exposer, Sutton strongerly encourages people to call the Chenango County Health Department. “We would rather have the conversation, and it end up being nothing than having an incident go unreported.”
Once a human is infected, the virus travels along portions of the nervous system until it reaches the cortex. Once there, it causes the brain to swell which in turn leads to death.
Symptoms of rabies can develop rapidly or over a protracted period of time depending on the location of the bite as well as other factors. Those infected may suffer from flu-like symptoms, partial paralysis, aches and pains, and an inability to swallow.
Said Sutton, “A common misconception is that animals are afraid of water. They aren’t. They just can’t swallow and can get frustrated.”
This causes animals which have contracted rabies to have dry mouths resulting in the characteristic foam encircling the beast’s lips. “We consider every onset as fatal. If there are symptoms, it’s too late,” Sutton said.
The environmental health department works closely with nurses and when an incident is reported they have a discussion as to whether or not treatment is necessary. Bats frequently are the culprits for an infection because they are not taken seriously. “Any confirmed or suspected interaction should be reported, even if you wake up and there is a bat in the room and your not sure if you were bitten,” Sutton said.
According to the joint public health department and NPD press release, there are a number of measures that county residents can take to help protect their family and pets from the threat of rabies.
The first, and arguably most important measure of prevention, is to vaccinate pets for rabies. Up-to-date vaccinations go a long way toward preventing the spread of rabies, and has effectively reduced the number of human contractions of the deadly virus in New York State.
If a pet does interact with animal suspected of having rabies, they are not to be handled; however, should handling be unavoidable, don gloves and long sleeves, and proceed with extreme caution. Even saliva on the fur of a pet that has not been allowed to dry may transmit the virus.
So far, there have been four cases of positive specimens in Chenango County this year, the latest of which occurred in June when an infected fisher cat was located in the Norwich area, said Sutton. Recently, some high profile instances of infection have also occurred in nearby Broome County. On average, there are 10-12 reported positive rabies infections in Chenango County each year.
“We have seen that rate going up in previous years,” Sutton said. Authorities are not certain as to the cause of the increase in positive specimens, but believe it may be due to an increase in the populations of wild animals.
“There is no excuse not to get your pet vaccinated and your dog licensed,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, adding that rabies clinics are free. Norwich has the highest concentration of pets per square mile in the county, and therefore is potentially more suseptible to an outbreak of rabies.
A free rabies clinic is scheduled Sept. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the South New Berlin Fire Station.
For information about rabies vaccinations, to report a possible case of rabies or to receive information on how to properly dispose of a potentially infected animal, contact a local veterinarian or call the Chenango County Environmental Health Department at 337-1673.
“Rabies has been identified in local wildlife,” reads the advisory, “Any wild animal acting strangely in close proximity to residential areas should be considered dangerous.”
Authorities caution people to be on high alert as rabies is an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans via a bite from the infected or even through contaminated saliva. Any mammal animal can contract the virus, even creatures such as squirrels, although only larger animals are truly considered to be a threat. The most dangerous domestic animals are cats – in regards to the tranmission of rabies – as they tend to roam more often, and vaccines are rarely administrated to strays.
The vaccine is considered 100 percent effective if administrated in its entirety; however, if a pet has a row with an animal and it is covered in contaminated saliva, the virus can be transmitted.
“If a dog tangles with an animal, it can be covered in secondary saliva and often times pet owners first inclination is to hug their animals after they have been hurt,” said Chenango County Director of Environmental Health Isaiah Sutton. Even if it’s a questionable exposer, Sutton strongerly encourages people to call the Chenango County Health Department. “We would rather have the conversation, and it end up being nothing than having an incident go unreported.”
Once a human is infected, the virus travels along portions of the nervous system until it reaches the cortex. Once there, it causes the brain to swell which in turn leads to death.
Symptoms of rabies can develop rapidly or over a protracted period of time depending on the location of the bite as well as other factors. Those infected may suffer from flu-like symptoms, partial paralysis, aches and pains, and an inability to swallow.
Said Sutton, “A common misconception is that animals are afraid of water. They aren’t. They just can’t swallow and can get frustrated.”
This causes animals which have contracted rabies to have dry mouths resulting in the characteristic foam encircling the beast’s lips. “We consider every onset as fatal. If there are symptoms, it’s too late,” Sutton said.
The environmental health department works closely with nurses and when an incident is reported they have a discussion as to whether or not treatment is necessary. Bats frequently are the culprits for an infection because they are not taken seriously. “Any confirmed or suspected interaction should be reported, even if you wake up and there is a bat in the room and your not sure if you were bitten,” Sutton said.
According to the joint public health department and NPD press release, there are a number of measures that county residents can take to help protect their family and pets from the threat of rabies.
The first, and arguably most important measure of prevention, is to vaccinate pets for rabies. Up-to-date vaccinations go a long way toward preventing the spread of rabies, and has effectively reduced the number of human contractions of the deadly virus in New York State.
If a pet does interact with animal suspected of having rabies, they are not to be handled; however, should handling be unavoidable, don gloves and long sleeves, and proceed with extreme caution. Even saliva on the fur of a pet that has not been allowed to dry may transmit the virus.
So far, there have been four cases of positive specimens in Chenango County this year, the latest of which occurred in June when an infected fisher cat was located in the Norwich area, said Sutton. Recently, some high profile instances of infection have also occurred in nearby Broome County. On average, there are 10-12 reported positive rabies infections in Chenango County each year.
“We have seen that rate going up in previous years,” Sutton said. Authorities are not certain as to the cause of the increase in positive specimens, but believe it may be due to an increase in the populations of wild animals.
“There is no excuse not to get your pet vaccinated and your dog licensed,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, adding that rabies clinics are free. Norwich has the highest concentration of pets per square mile in the county, and therefore is potentially more suseptible to an outbreak of rabies.
A free rabies clinic is scheduled Sept. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the South New Berlin Fire Station.
For information about rabies vaccinations, to report a possible case of rabies or to receive information on how to properly dispose of a potentially infected animal, contact a local veterinarian or call the Chenango County Environmental Health Department at 337-1673.
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