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Editorial
Routine belies danger of rabies reports
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Avian flu, which is forcing officials to destroy millions of birds and costing the industry millions of dollars is drawing plenty of media attention, and rightfully so.
Before that, ebola was the issue, with a Nebraska hospital the go-to facility for effective treatment.
But there's not much fuss about rabies, much more common in our area, and a disease which is nearly always fatal if contracted by humans.
A third case of rabies has been confirmed in Southwest Nebraska, a skunk in Dundy County that exposed dogs to the disease.
"We recommend that residents contact their local veterinarian to make sure your pet's vaccinations are current," said Melissa Propp, RN, surveillance coordinator at the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.
Be wary of any animal or pet that seems to be acting differently than normal. Wild animals may move slowly or act as if they are tame. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you or try to bite.
Some signs of rabies:
* changes in animal's behavior
* general sickness
* problems swallowing
* increased drooling
* Aggression.
If you discover a dead wild animal that may have infected your pets, remove the animal from the area with a shovel, wearing gloves and placing the carcass in a plastic bag.
Be sure to wash your hands in soap and water after taking off your gloves.
Do everything to make sure you avoid direct contact between the carcass and yourself.
Tools, cages, gloves and other surfaces potentially contaminated with saliva, nervous tissue or blood can be disinfected with a 10 percent solution of household bleach in water.
Contact your local veterinarian about rabies testing.
All livestock rabies exposures must be reported to the State Veterinarian.
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. Any wild mammal, like a raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people. According to the Center for Disease Control, rabies is a medical urgency. Any wounds should be immediately washed and receive medical attention from a health care professional.
For more information, call Propp at (308) 345-4223, or stop in at 404 West 10th, a block north of Arby's in McCook or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rabies site at http://www. cdc.gov/rabies/