World Rabies Day is an international awareness campaign coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a non-profit organization with headquarters in the United States.
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. Once clinical signs appear, rabies is almost always fatal in animals and people. In Canada, the animals that most often transmit rabies are bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes. In Canada, rabies is a reportable disease and all suspect cases must be reported. We asked Mom if any Cats, Dogs or Peeps had gotten rabies in British Columbia. And when Mom went to get Kozmo's Thyroid pills, she asked the vet. He said that in BC there were 196 blood samples taken (from wild animals, cats, dogs Peeps) and only 8 confirmed cases...all in Bats! He said that was 1 more than last year. But he said the big worry is that there were six deaths from rabies have been reported over the last 12 months in the U.S., the highest number in years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From rabid skunks in Kentucky to gray foxes in Arizona and raccoons on Long Island, wild animals in more than a dozen places across the U.S. have experienced a rise in the deadly disease, at least partly driven by shrinking natural habitats and better surveillance.
Even though there has not been a single case in our area in over 20 years, he wants all of us to get our vaccinations up to date as there is no real test for rabies and it is almost 100% fatal for those who get it!
Scary Stuff!
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My friend was recently on holiday in Türkiye. She was in an outdoor café when she felt something touching her leg. It was a feral cat trying to bite her ankle bracelet. She went to push it away and it bit her. Rabies is very high there! The waiter rushed over threw her wine over leg and to immediately go the local hospital. They gave her injections for two days until she could get an earlier flight home. Once back she was given an immunoglobin injection and several further anti rabies injections. The cat most likely was rabid as it left saliva on her leg. Two weeks later she says she feels fine, so hopefully the prompt treatment has saved her from a painful death.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteImportant stuff! Australia is officially rabies-free, though the bat populations do carry a virus that resembles classic rabies (EBLV) and does have to be monitored. Here are the basics regarding Britain...
Terrestrial animals: Classical rabies was eliminated from the UK's land animals by 1922.
Bats: Rabies-like viruses, known as European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLVs), have been found in UK bats. These are different from the classical rabies virus but can still cause a fatal rabies-like illness in humans.
Human cases are rare: No humans in the UK have contracted classical rabies from terrestrial animals since 1902. Imported cases: Most UK human cases of rabies since then have resulted from bites or scratches sustained abroad.
Bat-related cases: One human death from an indigenous bat-related virus (EBLV-2) occurred in the UK in 2002.
All cases must be reported to relevant authorities in your region... Keep up the good work for PSAs, Marv! Hugs and whiskeries YAM-aunty xxx
When Landlord Bob was alive, he would shoot any rabies infected animal that he saw. I get my rabies shot every three years. It's the law here.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have it here in the UK, and that is an amazing blessing. Thank goodness you all take precautions. Stay vaccinated, stay safe and well!
ReplyDeleteERin
That IS scary! Thanks for reminding Us.
ReplyDeleteSince our first dog when I was 8 years old, all our dogs have had once a year rabies shots. even the outside dogs when I lived with daddy. Beau is scheduled for his next Friday with his annual shots. Here it is a fine if you have a dog or cat that has no tag that proves they have had rabies shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's very important to keep up with the rabies vaccine for us pups and cats.
ReplyDeleteDear Jo Jo, I have to git my rabies shot in Oct. by Dr. Feelbad. I guess he thinks my moths have rabies as I am not allowed off the catio. I'll go only 'cause Lynn will drag me there by the hair on my head.
ReplyDeleteLynn got 2 ornaments from CBWhiskersandPaw.Com! One with my photo and one with Angel Peepers fur
the Christmas tree later on. We hope lotsa peeps shop on both. Purrs, Precious
Good reminder. Callie and her cats all had to go for shots 2 weeks ago because one of the cats had a fight with a bat during the day - and they couldn't be sure the cat wasn't bitten. Tigris and Styx
ReplyDeleteAll good information; thanks!
ReplyDeleteJava Bean: "Ayyy, our Mama and Dada are mindful of rabies here in San Diego County! Years ago there was a skunk stumbling around on the hillside outside the fence and they had no luck getting anyone interested in testing it. We have heard that Mama was pretty infuriated with all the local bureaucracy."
ReplyDeleteWe are always sure to our furry family members are up to date with their rabies vaccines. Ava just had her booster last week!
ReplyDeleteIt is scary, and since it is more likely our pets will get it from a wild animal than we will, as pets have more wild animal encounters than most people, having pets vaccinated puts a layer of protection between humans and wild animals.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever decide to do caving (cave exploring/spelunking), and there are bats in the caves you will be in, it's wise to have a preventive vaccine, too.
I am trying to make sure all my cats are up to date, but my 3 ferals are impossible to catch. XO
ReplyDeleteRabies shots are mandatory by law in our State. Some rabies cases have been reported in our County but fortunately not anywhere close to us.
ReplyDeleteits still a dangerous thing... and we get our shots to prevent it..
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