Follow These Simple Precautions To Avoid Becoming A Rabies Statistic

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   Rabies has not posed a significant threat in Navajo County, and health officials would like to keep it that way, especially since 2008 was a record setting year for the number of confirmed rabies cases throughout Arizona.
   This year could be another record breaker if the pace at which rabies is being identified in wild animals continues. Through February, 47 cases of rabies were confirmed in wild animals. Of those, nine were in neighboring Coconino County, and all were in skunks.
   The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) is urging citizens to take precautions by having their pets vaccinated, being cautious when hiking or camping, and not handling sick or injured wildlife, including baby animals.
   “With this great weather, people need to be careful when they are out camping and hiking,” DHS Veterinarian Elisabeth Lawaczeck noted. “People shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get outside and exercise, but they need to be smart about the wildlife, especially around their children and pets.”
   As of the end of February, five humans and 29 domestic animals had been exposed to rabies in Arizona.
   Navajo County has been fortunate, with only three confirmed cases of rabies in the last five years, and none last year, even though it was a record year statewide. All three cases, which include one in 2007 and two in 2006, were in bats. Literature provided by DHS notes that roosting bats should not be disturbed, and if a bat is found lying on the ground, it should be reported to the local health department or animal control. DHS officials stress that bats should not be touched or handled, whether they appear healthy or not.
   Bat bites can be difficult to detect, so anyone who has come in physical contact with a bat should report the incident and see a doctor right away. In 2008, just over 50 percent of all rabies cases occurred in bats.
   DHS notes, “Recent epidemiologic data suggest that transmission of rabies virus can occur from minor, seemingly unimportant or unrecognized bites from bats. In the United States, human fatalities associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, usually because they were unaware of their exposure. This is especially true with exposures to bats, as bat bites can be difficult to detect.”
   While most rabid animals show physical signs of infection, in some cases the animal may appear healthy while infected. While bats seem to pose the most significant risk, in Arizona rabies is also commonly found in skunks and gray foxes. It has also been found in raccoons, coyotes and bobcats.
   It is estimated that 90 percent of all rabies infections occur in wild animals, but precautions should be taken to protect pets, such as cats and dogs. In addition to regular vaccinations, pet owners are urged to keep their pets contained in a fenced yard. When hiking, they should be on a leash. Pets that are allowed to wander free during hiking and camping trips are at a much higher risk of contracting rabies due to the potential for contact with wild animals.
   Hunters should also take precautions, and wear impermeable gloves when handling and cleaning animals that could carry rabies.
   Signs of rabies in animals include unusual or aggressive behavior, trembling, staggering, weakness and agitation.
   Rabies is fatal to humans, and anyone who has contact with a potentially rabid animal should seek treatment immediately. Parents are encouraged to teach their children to avoid wild animals, and to report any unusual animal activity to an adult.