Important Information regarding Rabies

Please note: All dogs in the state of Virginia are required to have a dog license. Effective July 1, 2007, new Virginia legislation is requiring all Virginia veterinary practices to send a copy of your dog's rabies certificate to the local treasurer.

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2008

Summary—During 2008, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,841 cases of rabies in animals and 2 cases in humans
to the CDC, representing a 3.1% decrease from the 7,060 cases in animals and 1 case in a human reported in 2007.
Approximately 93% of the cases were in wildlife, and 7% were in domestic animals. Relative contributions by the
major animal groups were as follows: 2,389 (34.9%) raccoons, 1,806 (26.4%) bats, 1,589 (23.2%) skunks, 454 (6.6%)
foxes, 294 (4.3%) cats, 75 (1.1%) dogs, and 59 (0.9%) cattle. Compared with numbers of cases reported in 2007,
numbers of cases reported in 2008 increased among cats, cattle, and skunks and decreased among dogs, raccoons,
bats, and foxes. Numbers of rabid raccoons reported during 2008 decreased in 11 of the 20 eastern states where
raccoon rabies was enzootic; overall number of rabid raccoons reported decreased by 8.6% during 2008, compared
with 2007.
On a national level, the number of rabies cases involving skunks increased by 7.7% during 2008, compared with
the number reported in 2007; this was the first increase in the number of reported rabid skunks since 2006. The
total number of cases of rabies reported nationally in foxes decreased 1.7% in 2008, compared with 2007. The 1,806
cases of rabies reported in bats represented a 6.7% decrease, compared with the number reported in 2007. One
case of rabies in a dog imported from Iraq was reported at a quarantine station in New Jersey during 2008. Follow-up
of potentially exposed animals in the same shipment did not reveal any secondary transmission. The United States
remained free from dog-to-dog transmission of canine rabies virus variants. Total number of rabid dogs reported decreased
19.4% in 2008, compared with 2007.
Two human rabies cases were reported from California and Missouri during 2008. The California case involved
a recent immigrant from Mexico and was attributed to a newly identified rabies virus variant most likely associated
with Mexican free-tailed bats. The case in Missouri was attributed to a rabies virus variant associated with eastern
pipistrelle and silver-haired bats.

JAVMA, Vol 235, No 6, September 15, 2009

Rabies: Laws and Policies

  Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals, most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.  The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.  Domestic animals account for less than 10% of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often reported rabid.

  Although the majority of rabies cases occur in wildlife, most humans are given rabies vaccine as a result of exposure to domestic animals.  While wildlife are more likely to be rabid than domestic animals in the United States, the amount of human contact with domestic animals greatly exceeds the amount of contact with wildlife. Your pets and other domestic animals can be infected when they are bitten by rabid wild animals. When "spillover" rabies occurs in domestic animals, the risk to humans is increased. Pets are therefore vaccinated by your veterinarian to prevent them from acquiring the disease from wildlife and thereby transmitting it to humans.

  In accordance with Virginia State Laws, rabies vaccines to animals are considered valid 28 days after the first vaccine.  That first vaccine is only considered valid for 1 year following the date of vaccination.  All following vaccines are considered valid for 3 years unless the vaccine itself is not approved for 3 year use.

  Any animal bitten or scratched by a wild mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies.  Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately.  If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.  Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.

  Rabies virus might be excreted in the saliva of infected dogs, cats, and ferrets during illness and/or for only a few days before illness or death.  A healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days.  Administration of the rabies vaccine to the animal is not recommended during the observation period to avoid confusing signs of rabies with possible side effects of vaccination.  Animals in confinement should be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign of illness.  Any illness in the animal should be reported immediately to the local health department.  If signs suggestive of rabies develop, the animal should be euthanized and sent for testing. Any stray or unwanted dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person may be euthanized immediately and sent for testing.

For more information about rabies, visit www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or speak with your veterinarian.

Dog Bite Alert

As the temperatures rise, so does your child’s risk of being bitten by a dog, says a recent study by researchers at the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  Young kids are particularly vulnerable to severe bites in the head and neck areas.  Protect your child by teaching them to:

·          Never approach strange dogs, try to pet them through fences, or disturb those that are sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

·          Ask a dog owner’s permission before petting.

·          Walk past a dog, do not run, which may cause the dog to become excited or aggressive.

·          If your child is bitten, always call the doctor.  Even minor bites need to get professional attention since they can easily become infected.