Rabies

WHAT IS RABIES?

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of mammals. It is usually transmitted by an infected animal’s bite. The incubation period, the period between exposure to the disease and onset of symptoms, ranges from two weeks to many months. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms occur. These symptoms may include behavior changes, like unusual aggressiveness or paralysis (frequently beginning in the hind legs or the throat of an animal). Prompt vaccination following a bite can prevent rabies in humans. Up-to-date vaccinations in dogs, cats and livestock, prior to exposure, can protect these animals against the disease.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO RABIES?

If you are bitten or scratched by a wild/stray or sick animal, or get saliva from a rabies-suspect animal into an open wound or a mucous membrane, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. Contact your doctor and your local health department immediately. Ontario County residents, call Ontario County Public Health at (585) 396-4343 or 1-800-299-2995.

HOW TO AVOID EXPOSURE TO RABIES?

Avoiding encounters with wildlife can reduce the risk of exposure to rabies. Do not attempt to handle or capture wildlife or stray animals. Avoid animals acting strangely, especially those that are unusually tame, aggressive or paralyzed. Keep your property free of exposed garbage, pet food, stored bird seed and other foods that may attract wild or stray animals. Report animals suspected of rabies to your local health department. Ontario County residents, please call the Ontario County Humane Society at 585-396-4590.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PETS?

Keep your property free of exposed garbage, pet food, stored bird seed and other foods that may attract wild animals. Make sure that all dogs and cats have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. The rabies vaccination certificate should indicate when booster doses are due. If that information is not available, contact your veterinarian. Dogs and cats need to be vaccinated at 3 months, then one year later, then every three years after that. Ferrets can be vaccinated annually. Rabies clinics for dogs and cats, are available in Ontario County through the summer months (see the clinic schedule below).

Most of the recent human rabies cases have been caused by rabies virus from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets.

When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood, and most DO NOT HAVE RABIES. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them.

If you are bitten by a bat, or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and contact Ontario County Public Health immediately (585-396-4343 or 1-800-299-2995).

People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat. However, because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person. In these cases contact Ontario County Public Health at 585-396-4343 or 1-800-299-2995 and, if possible, capture the bat.

!!TAKE NOTE OF A NEW STATE LAW!! **If an animal, not up-to-date with its vaccination, bites a human, the owner may be fined up to $200 per incident plus the cost of a 10-day confinement in a shelter or kennel**

2006 Rabies Prevention Clinic Schedule for Ontario County

A donation of $5.00 per animal would be appreciated.
Cats/ferrets must be in a secure container and dogs must be on a leash
(Please have one animal per container)

ADULTS SHOULD ACCOMPANY CHILDREN UNDER AGE OF 18 YEARS
You may attend any clinic regardless of where you live, even other counties

For further information please call:

• Ontario County Humane Society – (585) 396-4590
• Ontario County Public Health – (585) 396-4343