May 19, 2008

Summary

In Kansas between January 1 and May 18, 2008, 31 positive rabies cases were confirmed in animals. Animals diagnosed as positive include two cats, one horse, and twenty-eight skunks. Individuals should stay away from stray animals or pets. If you have been bitten or scratched by a stray pet or wild animal, wash the wound with soap and water, and contact your physician or local health department. Animals including cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock should be vaccinated for rabies. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect illness in your animal or if you have questions about vaccinating your animals. Report stray animals to animal control ( Emporia/ Lyon County 620-340-6345).

 

Rabies in Lyon County

 

Lyon County has had three confirmed rabid animals since the beginning of 2008. One skunk near the Hartford area was confirmed positive in January. One positive skunk was collected at the north end of the ESU campus in early April and a positive cat was collected from the south end of Emporia in mid-April.

 

Rabies is always present in the Lyon County community. The disease runs in cycles with peaks occurring approximately every ten years. In Kansas, the skunk is the wild animal most likely to spread the disease to humans, their pets and livestock. In Kansas between January 1 and May 18, 2008, 31 positive rabies cases were confirmed in animals. Twenty-eight of these cases were in skunks. Other animals diagnosed as positive include two cats and one horse. The cat is the domestic animal most likely to spread the disease to humans. No human cases have been reported in Kansas this year.

 

Reduce the possibility of exposure to rabies by not letting your pets roam free. Keep cats and ferrets indoors, and supervise dogs when they are outside. Spaying or neutering your pet may decrease roaming tendencies and will prevent them from contributing to the birth of unwanted animals.

 

Individuals should stay away from stray animals or pets. Animals including cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock should be vaccinated for rabies. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect illness in your animal or if you have questions about vaccinating your animals. Report stray animals to animal control ( Emporia/ Lyon County 620-340-6345).

 

If you have been bitten or scratched by a stray pet or wild animal, wash the wound with soap and water, and contact your physician or local health department. For more information on rabies, contact your veterinarian, your local health department, or visit the following sites:

American Veterinary Medical Association ( www.avma.org)
United States Centers for Disease Control ( www.cdc.gov)

 

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