County issues rabies precautions

The Pinal County Public Health Services District (PCPHSD) is issuing an advisory for animal rabies to all residents of Pinal County, including Maricopans.

On April 1 a skunk collected in the San Manuel area tested positive for rabies at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. This is the first animal to test positive in Pinal County in 2009 and no humans were exposed. Following an investigation by public health staff no human exposures were identified. Although the rabid skunk was in San Manuel, the possibility of rabid animals is statewide.

Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord of animals and humans. It is caused by a virus present in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted to humans through contact with the live virus. Rabies is fatal to humans once symptoms appear. There has not been a documented case of human rabies in Pinal County for decades.

While human exposures to rabid animals are rare, family pets are more often exposed to wild animals, including wild animals that are rabid. Vaccination against rabies is available for your pets through your veterinarian or Pinal County Animal Care and Control. This will prevent them from getting rabies if exposed to a rabid animal.

Unfortunately, household pets are often not vaccinated against rabies and need to be put to sleep after having an exposure to a wild animal. “If the family pet gets bitten by a rabid animal, that pet is at risk of getting rabies if it is not up to date on its rabies shots,” said Tom Schryer, county public health director. “If it is possible that the family pet could get rabies and give it to a family member, animal care and control agencies have no choice but to remove that pet from the home. A simple rabies shot at the vet’s office can protect these pets from rabies and from the need to put the animal to sleep.”

Feel free to contact Pinal County Animal Care and Control for more information concerning rabies vaccination for pets and vaccination clinic times and locations at 520- 509-3555 or toll free at 888- 431-1311.

While rabies can occur in animals anywhere in the county, in the last few years the southern and eastern portions of the county have had the most activity. Rabies is found mainly in wild animals such as bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and coyotes. Cats, dogs and livestock can also become infected with rabies if rabid wild animals bite them, and they have not been vaccinated. Rodents such as rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs and squirrels are not likely to be infected with rabies. Wild animals exhibiting unusual behavior should be reported to local animal control officials. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to avoid touching, handling or adopting wild or stray animals.

The first sign of rabies is usually a change in the animal’s behavior. Animals may act more aggressive or more tame than usual. Animals usually active at night such as skunks, foxes and bats may be out during the day. Rabid animals may appear agitated and excited or paralyzed and frightened. Sometimes rabid animals do not show any signs of illness before death from rabies. That is why contact with wild animals should always be avoided.

PCPHSD recommends the following precautions:

1. Keep people and pets away from wild animals. Do not pick up, touch or feed wild or unfamiliar animals, especially sick or wounded ones. If someone has been bitten or scratched or has had contact with the animal, report it immediately to animal control or health officials.
2. Do not “rescue” seemingly abandoned young wild animals. Usually, the mother will return. If the mother is dead or has not returned in many hours, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
3. Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. Pets should be kept in a fenced yard.
4. Take precautions when camping, hunting or fishing. Avoid sleeping on the open ground without the protection of a closed tent or camper. Keep pets on a leash and do not allow them to wander.
5. Do not disturb roosting bats. If you find a bat on the ground, don’t touch it! Report the bat and its location to your local animal control officer or health department. Place a box over the bat to contain it. Be careful not to damage the bat in any way since it must be intact for rabies testing.

For more information about rabies, call the Pinal County Public Health Services District at 520-866-7347, or the Arizona Department of Health Services at 602-364-4562.

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