Information
is provided by the State of Nevada - Business & Industry / Division of Agriculture
Bureau of Animal Industry / Dr. Ronald Anderson, DVM
(775) 688-1182 Ext. 233What is rabies and how do people and animals get it?
On the Web | Nevada Information
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other
mammals. People get rabies from the bite of an animal with rabies (a rabid animal). Any
wild animal, like a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it
to people and other animals.
It is also possible, but quite rare,
that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, get
directly into their eyes, nose, mouth or a wound.
Because rabies is a fatal disease, the goal of public health is,
first, to prevent exposure to rabies by education and second, to prevent the disease by
anti-rabies treatment if exposure occurs. Tens of thousands of people are successfully
treated each year after being bitten by an animal that may have rabies. A few people die
of rabies each year in the United States, usually because they do not recognize the risk
of rabies from the bite of a wild animal and do not seek medical advice.
If you are bitten by a bat – or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat
gets inot your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound – wash the affected area thoroughly with
soap and water and get medical advise immediately. Wherever possible, the bat should be
captured and sent to a laboratory for testing.
If a bat is present in your home / barn and you cannot rule out the possibility of
exposure, leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or public health agency for
assistance.
Ref: Bats and Rabies – A public health guide produced by the Department of Health and
Human Services.
On the Web:
Bat conservation International, Inc.
www.batcon.org
US Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
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Nevada
Information
For more information about "Rabies" contact the District Health Department in
Reno at 1001 E. Ninth St, or call (775) 328-2434. If you live outside of Washoe County,
contact your local Health Department. |
"Protecting Yourself from
Rabies" is one reference brochure published by Connaught Laboratories, Inc.
(1-800-VACCINE). Limited copies are also available through the State of Nevada Department
of Business and Industry, Division of Agriculture, Bureau of Veterinary Services –
350 Capitol Hill Ave., Reno, NV.
For more
information or
to be added to the Disaster Preparedness
e-mail update program,
please call Dee Beaugez at
775-424-4100.
or e-mail her at
deebeaugez@visual-imagry.com |
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