“We have a significantly higher number of confirmed rabid animals this year…” said KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Ingrid Garrison. Rabies cases have recently been identified in Dickinson County.
Vaccines are available for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, cattle and sheep.
The risk for human exposure to rabies is real but preventable. Animal rabies is common in Kansas, and skunks are the animals most likely to have the disease. However, skunks can pass the virus to other animals, such as dogs, cats, cattle and horses.
Tips to prevent rabies:Have your veterinarian vaccinate all dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and valuable breeding stock and show animals (cattle and sheep) against rabies.
• If bitten by an animal, seek medical attention and report the bite to your local public health department or animal control department immediately. Wash the wound immediately with soap and water.
• If your animal is bitten, contact your local health department for advice.
• If you wake up in a room with a bat present, even if there is no evidence of a bite or scratch, seek medical attention.
• Do not handle or feed wild animals. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• Do not try to nurse sick wild animals back to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
For further information, call the Dickinson County Health Department at (785) 263-4179.