County issues third rabies alert since March 31

The Pinal County Public Health Services District is issuing another advisory for animal rabies to all residents of Pinal County, the third such alert in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, a skunk found in the Oracle area tested positive for rabies at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. This is the eighth animal to test positive in Pinal County this year. Following an investigation by public health staff no human exposures were identified.

On April 4th, a skunk found in the Maricopa area tested positive for rabies. Before that,
a bobcat bagged March 31 in the Peppersauce campgrounds near Oracle tested positive for rabies. In that instance, two people were exposed and required medical treatment.

The identification of rabid animals statewide serves as a reminder of the potential for rabies in wild animals in Arizona. 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 through your veterinarian or county animal care and control for pets. 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.

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. Unvaccinated cats, dogs and livestock can also become infected with rabies if they are bitten by rabid wild animals. 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.

Pinal County Public Health Officials recommend the following precautions:

* 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.
* 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.
* Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. Pets should be kept in a fenced yard.
* 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.
* 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 information 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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