Eight rabies cases probed in Southwest Nebraska

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department has investigated eight rabies incidents since March 2009. The cases have involved skunks, cats, dogs, and puppies. Cases investigated have been in Frontier, Hayes, Red Willow, Hitchcock and Chase counties.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services states that dog and cat bites represent the most common potential exposure to rabies. Vaccination of pets remains the most sensible measure to reduce human exposure.

"We can't stress enough the importance of vaccinating your pets against rabies," said Beverly Powers, Surveillance Coordinator at Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. "The majority of rabies incidents occur in wildlife instead of domestic animals. This is due to the increase in pet vaccination."

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 mammal, like a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people. It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

Animals with rabies may act differently from healthy animals. Wild animals may move slowly or may act as if they are tame.

A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Some signs of rabies in animals are:

* changes in an animal's behavior

* general sickness

* problems swallowing

* increased drooling

* aggression

Per the Center for Disease Control, rabies is a medical urgency not an emergency, but decisions must not be delayed. Any wounds should be immediately washed and medical attention from a health care professional should be sought for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination.

More information on rabies may be obtained at www.cdc.gov/rabies or by calling Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department at 308-345-4223. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Furnas, Perkins and Red Willow Counties. www.swhealthdept.com