A raccoon in the Eldred area has tested positive for rabies,
according to a state Department of Agriculture official.
This announcement marks the first case of rabies in McKean
County this year. The raccoon, which was found on Newell Creek Road
in Ceres Township, was fighting with a dog under a house when the
dog’s owner attempted to intervene. The dog, which was vaccinated,
was “badly bitten on its face and required surgical repairs,”
according Karen Martin, VMD, of the Department of Agriculture.
Rabies is a potentially fatal viral infection that attacks the
central nervous system.
Martin said it is not possible to determine if this raccoon may
have exposed other animals, wild or domestic.
“The number one thing is to get your pets vaccinated. Get those
dogs and cats vaccinated. That’s the best thing you could do to
control it,” Martin said.
Raccoons – at 241 – topped the list of animals infected with
rabies. They are followed by skunks – 59, bats -ð39 and cats –
30.
In the Eldred case, the owner was bitten on her hand and
received the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, or treatment to
prevent the disease. The dog will be quarantined and observed
closely for 90 days.
Since rabies is more prevalent in the summer months, an incident
in January is considered unusual.
“It’s usually when the weather warms up … animals come out to
look for food,” Martin said.
Animals may act abnormally, she said, including “acting silly,
stupid.”
For instance, there was one case where a raccoon was in a dog’s
box and would not run away when approached by people.
“Sometimes they are aggressive or out during day time. That’s a
worry.”
Martin says she sends notices to various people, including
health officers, nurses, pet stores, farmers and veterinarians to
inform people of rabies cases.
“The Eldred area has had more than it’s share (of rabies),” she
said.
Martin suggested anyone who is bit by a wild animal should “wash
their hands vigorously and call a doctor.”
“A bite from a wild animal are always very serious,” she
said.
Pennsylvania law requires that all dogs and non-feral cats three
months of age and older are vaccinated for rabies and that booster
vaccinations are administered periodically to maintain lifelong
immunity.
According to information Bradford City Clerk John Peterson
received from the Department of Agriculture, the only case of
rabies last year in McKean County was a bobcat. There were no human
exposures.
In 2005, there were a total of 406 cases of rabies in the state.
Of that, 94 had human exposure; 312 did not.
Last year, April was the month with the highest incidence of
rabies with 55 cases, followed by August with 55 and November with
42.
After a spike of about 500 in 2002, the number of cases fell off
in subsequent years.
According to information on the Department of Agriculture Web
site, bats continue to be the number one cause of human rabies
cases.
Exposure to rabies may be my a mucous membrane -ðeye, nose and
mouth – contacting saliva from a rabid animal, by a break in the
skin or an open wound contacting saliva from a rabid animal or by a
bite wound from a rabid animal.
The Web site also lists what to do in a rabies emergency:
– Wash wound thoroughly with plenty of soap and water. Contact a
physician about medical treatment.
– Confine and isolate the biting animal if it’s a domestic dog
or cat. Contact a veterinarian about having the animal examined and
for handling procedures.
– Wild animals suspected of having rabies should be humanely
killed without damaging the brain. A veterinarian can advise on
procedures to follow in delivering the animal or its head to a
qualified laboratory to determine if its rabid. Wear plastic or
rubber gloves to handle the animal.
– Keep the head or carcass of the specimen in a sealed container
and refrigerate with ice. Do not use dry ice and do not freeze
it.
-ðPets exposed to a possibly rabid animal should be confined,
isolated and handled as little as possible. Contact a veterinarian
for advice.
– In the event of a pet or human exposure to rabies, assistance
can be obtained through the Departments of Agriculture and Health,
humane societies and local and state police.
If a wild animal is involved Game Commission representatives in
your area should be contacted.
Symptoms of rabies include fever, myalgia and headache. This can
progress to inflammation of the brain, confusion, seizures,
paralysis, coma and death.
