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 New Rochelle, NY - The Westchester County Department of Health warns residents this spring to caution their children against touching strays or baby animals because they could be infected with rabies. Household pets – dogs, cats and ferrets also should be fully vaccinated against rabies for the same reason.
“Rabies is a very real threat in every neighborhood,” said Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman. “The danger with this disease is that by the time symptoms appear it is almost always too late for effective treatment. Therefore, contact with unvaccinated animals must be avoided and, when it does occur, it must be reported to the Health Department immediately.”
Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread through the saliva of infected animals and can be carried even by baby animals. Any bite or scratch from an unvaccinated animal, or even contact with its saliva, is regarded as a possible rabies exposure and requires an investigation to determine whether medical intervention is required.
“Please make sure your children understand that it is never safe to touch wild or stray animals, no matter how cute and docile they seem,” said Dr. Lipsman. “Rabies often makes animals more docile. Also make sure your children know they should tell you if they have been touched by a wild or stray animal.”
If you or someone you know does have contact with a wild or stray animal, here’s what to do:
Immediately wash the area of contact thoroughly with soap and water.
Call your health care provider and the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000.
If the animal can be caught and tested, there may be no need for post-exposure shots. If treatment is needed, it is almost always completely effective if it is given in a timely manner.
Most mammals can be infected with rabies. Those that pose the greatest threat of rabies include bats, skunks, raccoons, woodchucks, cats and dogs. Bats pose the highest risk of rabies in New York State because their teeth are so sharp and small making it possible to be bitten or scratched by a bat without even knowing it. Therefore, any contact or suspected contact with a bat should be reported to the Health Department.
If you are bitten or scratched by someone’s pet, get the name and address of the pet’s owner and contact the Health Department. Westchester County law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies and that the vaccinations be kept up to date.
The Westchester County Health Department will hold a free rabies vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6th at the Stamen Animal Hospital, 61 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle. Appointments are required, so call the animal hospital at (914) 632-1269.
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