April Is Rabies Awareness Month

Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced today that April is Rabies Awareness Month in the Commonwealth.

The goal of Rabies Awareness Month is to promote key prevention strategies, including proper pet vaccination and the prevention of animal bites.

"This year we particularly want to recognize our veterinarians for the significant role they have played in reducing rabies cases in Massachusetts. Since pets have historically been a source of human infection, vaccinating our pet dogs and cats has resulted in a significant decrease in human cases since the 1940s," said DPH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Al DeMaria.

Each April, rabies clinics are held across the state. The clinics provide reduced rate vaccinations with the goal of vaccinating cats and dogs who don't visit a veterinarian on a regular basis.

Rabies is a serious disease of the brain and spinal cord and is caused by a virus. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva and nervous tissues of an infected animal and can be transmitted to humans or other animals by a bite or scratch. Once someone gets sick with rabies, the disease is almost always fatal. Fortunately, the disease is preventable in humans if the exposure is recognized and treated promptly.

Hundreds of animals are found to have rabies each year in Massachusetts. Wild animals most commonly found to be rabid include raccoons, skunks, bats, woodchucks and foxes. Over one hundred cats have also tested positive for rabies in Massachusetts.

Of the approximately 2 to 3 human cases that occur every year in the United States, most of them are due to human contact with an infected bat. Anyone who has contact with a bat, or is bitten or scratched by another animal, should call their health-care provider or DPH at (617) 983-6800 to discuss the need for preventive treatment.

How can rabies be prevented?

* Enjoy wild animals from a distance. Do not feed or pet strays. Avoid any animal-wild, farm or pet-that you don't know. Report any animal that behaves oddly to your local animal control officer.

* Do not handle dead, sick or injured wild animals. Call the police or animal control officer. If you must handle the animal, use heavy gloves, sticks or other tools to avoid direct contact.

* Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and that their shots are kept up to date.

* Do not feed pets outdoors and keep them indoors at night.

What should you do if you are bitten or scratched by an animal?

* Wash the wound with soap and water immediately for at least ten minutes.

* Call your health care provider or local board of health after you wash the wound.

* Call your animal control officer for assistance in locating or catching the animal.

* If you think your pet has been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, put on gloves before touching your pet and consult your veterinarian.

What is the treatment for people exposed to rabies?

* The treatment for people exposed to rabies involves two medications. One, called rabies immune globulin contains antibodies to fight the virus and is given once. The other medication is rabies vaccine, which ensures long-lasting protection. To work best, medications should be given as soon as possible after the bite or scratch.