George Miller, Manager/Health Officer,
Oakland County Health Division
(248) 858-1410
May 5, 2008 As warmer weather approaches, Oakland County residents are urged to take precautions against rabies exposure from wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.
If one of these wild animals is found in or near a home, call the local animal control agency for assistance and to assess whether there was a potential rabies exposure. If bitten by any wild animal or stray domestic animal, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
"As wild animals become more active in warmer weather, the possibility of human contact increases," said George Miller, Manger/Health Officer, Oakland County Health Division. "Although our natural instinct is to befriend a baby animal, pet one that seems friendly or help an injured animal, stray and wild animals should be avoided," Miller said.
Wild animals are more likely than domestic animals to be infected with rabies due to widespread vaccination of domestic animals. Domestic cats, dogs, ferrets, and horses can become infected if they are not vaccinated. Small mammals such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks or rabbits are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been reported to cause human rabies in the United States
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People and unvaccinated animals get rabies from the bite of an infected animal or if saliva from the animal gets directly into a persons eyes, nose, mouth or any break in the skin. Vaccine is given to at risk individuals to prevent the disease. Rabies is nearly always fatal if not treated after exposure.
Follow these tips to prevent rabies:
Never handle a wild animal like a bat, raccoon, skunk, or fox.
If you wake up in a room with a bat present, regardless if there is evidence of a bite or scratch, seek medical attention. If at all possible trap the bat for testing. Do not release the bat.
Wash animal bites thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
If bitten by a wild/stray animal, quarantine the animal if possible. Call the local animal control to assist with trapping, testing and/or observation of the animal. Animal control may also assist with removing stray or wild animals from your yard, home or neighborhood regardless of a bite.
Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
Prevent bats and raccoons from entering homes or spaces where people and pets may be present.
Keep vaccinations current for dogs, cats and ferrets. Keep cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision. Consider having your pets spayed or neutered.
For more information, call Oakland County Health Divisions Nurse on Call at 1-800-848-5533.
