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Some Frequently asked Questions about Rabies
How do people get rabies?
People usually get get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also
possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from
a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a
wound.
What animals get rabies?
Any mammal can get rabies. The most common wild reservoirs of
rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Domestic mammals can also
get rabies. Cats, cattle, and dogs are the most frequently reported rabid
domestic animals in the United States.
How
can I find out what animals have rabies in my area?
Each state collects specific information about rabies, and is the best source
for information on rabies in your area. In addition, the CDC publishes rabies
surveillance data every year for the United States. The report, entitled
Rabies Surveillance in the United States, contains information about the
number of cases of rabies reported to CDC during the year, the animals reported
rabid, maps showing where cases were reported for wild and domestic animals, and
distribution maps showing outbreaks of rabies associated with specific animals.
A summary of the report can be found in the
Epidemiology section of the CDC's web site.
How can I tell if a bat
has rabies?
Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. However, any bat that is active by
day, is found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for example in rooms
in your home or on the lawn), or is unable to fly, is far more likely than
others to be rabid. Such bats are often the most easily approached. Therefore,
it is best never to handle any bat.
How can I protect my pet from
rabies?
There are several things you can do to protect your pet from rabies. First,
visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies
vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. Second, maintain
control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under
direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of
unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly.
Lastly, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood
since these animals may be unvaccinated or ill.
Information was
gathered from CDC web site.
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