World Rabies Day is September 28, 2010
Jefferson County, CO – This World Rabies Day, September 28, 2010 take a stand against rabies in our communities. Everyone should be sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccine. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People and pets can get rabies from the bite of a rabies infected animal. Any wild mammal, such as raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote or bat can have rabies and transmit it to people or pets through a bite. Residents are reminded to keep their pets vaccinated and avoid contact with wild animals. Worldwide rabies kills 55,000 people annually. The World Rabies Day initiative is a global rabies awareness campaign to spread the word about rabies prevention.
Rabies in Colorado and Jefferson County
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, rabies in skunks began to spread from eastern Colorado towards the Front Range beginning in 2008. Instances of rabies among other wild and domestic animals are rare. A few cases have recently been documented in foxes in Colorado, due to infection with rabies from skunks. Jefferson County Public Health has recorded three positive rabies specimens this year, all bats. To put this in perspective, JCPH has had as many as 17 bats test positive in a single year previously.
Rabies Control and Prevention – Pets
- Vaccinate your dogs, cats, and ferrets
- Consult your veterinarian about your pets health
- Consult animal control about low cost vaccination clinics
- Consult your large animal veterinarian about vaccinating horses and other livestock
- Maintain control of your pets
- Keep cats indoors
- Keep dogs under direct supervision
- Do not allow pets to roam freely
- Spay or neuter your pets to reduce the number of unwanted or stray animals
- Call your local animal control to remove stray animals from your neighborhood or Jefferson County Animal Control at (303) 271-5070
Rabies Control and Prevention – Wildlife
- Do not to approach any bats found on the ground and/or acting out of the ordinary
- Report any incidents to Jefferson County Animal Control or City Animal Control
- Do not feed, touch, or handle wild animals.
- Teach children to leave wildlife alone.
- Do not leave pet food or livestock feed in areas accessible to wildlife.
- Call the Colorado Division of Wildlife at (303) 297-1192 if you have problems with wild animals.
People and Exposures
- Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, such as a skunk, bat, fox or raccoon, or comes home smelling like a skunk.
- If a family member or pet has been bitten or scratched by a wild mammal, contact your healthcare provider immediately and notify your local public health agency.
For more information on animal borne disease and prevention:
