News Release 2-16-2000 |
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AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER WARNS, RABIES IS A YEAR-ROUND THREAT CHARLESTON, W.VA. - Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass has issued a word of warning to pet and livestock owners. "Rabies is no longer only prevalent during the period following the wildlife breeding season. It is important to remember that rabies is a year-round threat," said Commissioner Douglass. Recently, there have been several reports of human exposure to animals that later proved to be rabid. This has resulted in the preventable expenditure of thousands of dollars to protect the life and health of the persons involved. Rabies can come in two forms: furious (otherwise known as "mad dog") and paralytic (mouth open, tongue out and saliva running down the dog's cheeks). It is difficult, in most cases, to observe a sick animal and rule out the possibility of rabies. Rabies should always be considered when animals become sick and the cause is unknown. Rabies in animals and people is almost always fatal. When only one or a few of several animals are acting strangely, rabies is a strong possibility. When animals are sick, care should always be taken to avoid undue exposure to their body fluids. The person treating the animal should protect their eyes, breathing passages and any abrasions. An animal may be showing no signs of rabies in the first course of illness, but may be unable to swallow the next day. Commissioner Douglass concluded by saying, "If animal owners are in doubt, their local veterinarian should be consulted when their animals are sick. No season has a monopoly on the incidence of rabies." The West Virginia State Code requires cats and dogs to be vaccinated for rabies every two years. Rabies vaccines are also available for horses, cattle, sheep and ferrets. For more information on rabies, contact Dr. Lewis Thomas, State Veterinarian and Director of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Division, 304/558-2214. |
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