Rabies confirmed in several skunks in Jefferson County - Prevent animal-borne diseases

A skunk collected in Wheat Ridge near Sheridan and 35th Avenue was infected with rabies, according to lab results from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in early March. Though this was the first wild animal in Jefferson County to test positive for rabies this year, several more have been confirmed.

In 2016, 88 animals in Colorado— both wild and domestic — were confirmed rabies positive by the CDPHE laboratory. Ten of those were from Jefferson County. The vast majority of these were wild animals with skunks and bats being the most common.

The public is strongly urged to vaccinate all of their domestic pets and valuable livestock against rabies and to be sure vaccinations are kept up-to-date. Now that rabies has been found in a terrestrial animal within the county, any domestic animal encounter with any wild animal will be treated like an exposure to a rabid animal. Domestic animals with one expired rabies or without any rabies vaccinations will be classified as high risk and be required to undergo a120-day quarantine.

“This rabies case is a good opportunity to remind people that having dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies is an easy and effective way to protect pets and humans from this deadly disease,” said Dave Volkel, Environmental Health Specialist with Jefferson County Public Health’s Zoonosis Program. “We also encourage the owners of horses, cattle and other livestock to consult with their veterinarians regarding rabies vaccination.”

Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals and is nearly always fatal. The virus is shed in the saliva of infected animals. People or animals can get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal or from a rabid animal’s saliva if it comes in contact with their eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds. Immediate medical treatment is required after exposure to an infected animal. Skunks, bats, foxes, raccoons and other wildlife should not be handled or fed to prevent exposure to this virus.


In addition to rabies vaccinations for pets and livestock, here are additional precautions to prevent possible exposure to rabies:
Resources:
CDPHE web site: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/hanta/index.html

• Avoid contact with any wild animals, especially any that act unusually. A healthy wild animal will generally avoid human contact.
• Teach children to stay away from all wild animals, stray domestic pets or any dead animals and tell an adult if they are scratched or bitten.
• Wildlife suffering from rabies will often be out during the day, act aggressively and violently approach people or pets. Rabid wildlife might also stumble or have trouble walking.
• Do not let pets roam freely, since this can increase the chance that they could be exposed without your knowledge.
• Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
• If a person has been bitten or scratched by a wild mammal, they should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, seek immediate medical attention and notify their local public health agency. Prompt medical treatment is key to preventing rabies after a possible exposure.
• Do not feed wild animals, since this reduces their natural fear of humans
• Do not leave pet food or livestock feed outside or feed more than your outdoor pet will finish in one feeding.
• Wildlife Rabies and You (brochure)
• For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please contact your local animal control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control: 303-271-5070
• For more information about rabies contact Environmental Health Services Animal Borne Disease Program at 303-232-6301 or visit http://jeffco.us/public-health/healthy-environments/animal-borne-disease/
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Rabies Data: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/rabies-data
  

Prevent Hantavirus

Spring is also an important time to be aware of Hantavirus, an animal-borne disease that can cause severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease in humans. When opening up cabins, sheds, buildings and barns and when doing spring cleaning chores, Coloradans can be exposed to dust contaminated with the virus in a mouse-infested area.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Colorado averages about four cases of HPS a year.

JCPH also advises that residents rodent proof their homes by plugging holes and entry points where mice can get inside; eliminating food sources for rodents; and removing abandoned vehicles and wood, brush and junk piles where rodents hide.  

For more information on Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome:

Jefferson County Public Health: http://www.jeffco.us/health/health_T111_R50.htm.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hps/index.html

Rabies Confirmed in a Skunk found in Arvada

Vaccinate your pets and avoid contact with wild animals

Jefferson County Public Health has confirmed that a skunk collected in Arvada near Sheridan and 70th Avenue was infected with rabies. The skunk came in contact with a family pet, a dog, that was fortunately up-to-date with rabies vaccination. There was no known human exposure to the skunk. The skunk was euthanized and submitted for testing today at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) laboratory. JCPH received positive rabies test results back from the CDPHE lab this afternoon. While rabies has been found in skunks in Denver and neighboring counties, this is the first terrestrial wild animal that has tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County. The public is strongly urged to vaccinate all of their domestic pets and valuable livestock against rabies and to be sure vaccinations are kept up-to-date. Now that rabies has been found in a terrestrial animal within the county, any domestic animal encounter with any wild animal will be treated like an exposure to a rabid animal. Domestic animals with one expired rabies or without any rabies vaccinations will be classified as high risk and be required to undergo a 180-day quarantine.

“This rabies case is a good opportunity to remind people that having dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies is an easy and effective way to protect pets and humans from this deadly disease,” said Dave Volkel, environmental health specialist with Jefferson County Public Health’s Zoonosis Program. “We also encourage the owners of horses, cattle and other livestock to consult with their veterinarians regarding rabies vaccination.”

Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, and is nearly always fatal. The virus is shed in the saliva of infected animals. People or animals can get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal or from a rabid animal’s saliva if it comes in contact with their eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds. Immediate medical treatment is required after exposure to an infected animal. Skunks, bats, foxes, raccoons and other wildlife should not be handled or fed to prevent exposure to this virus.

In addition to rabies vaccinations for pets and livestock, there are additional precautions to prevent possible exposure to rabies: 

• Avoid contact with any wild animals, especially any that act unusually. A healthy wild animal will generally avoid human contact.
• Teach children to stay away from all wild animals, stray domestic pets, or any dead animals and tell an adult if they are scratched or bitten 
• Wildlife suffering from rabies will often be out during the day, act aggressively and violently approach people or pets. Rabid wildlife might also stumble or have trouble walking 
• Do not let pets roam freely, since this can increase the chance that they could be exposed without your knowledge 
• Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal 
• If a person has been bitten or scratched by a wild mammal, they should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, seek immediate medical attention and also notify their local public health agency. Prompt medical treatment is the key to preventing rabies after a possible exposure
• Do not feed wild animals, since this reduces their natural fear of humans
• Do not leave pet food or livestock feed outside or feed more than your outdoor pet will finish in one feeding 

Resources: 

• Wildlife Rabies and You (brochure)
  
• For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please contact your local animal control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control: 303-271-5070
  
• For more information about rabies contact Environmental Health Services Animal Borne Disease Program at 303-232-6301 or visit http://jeffco.us/public-health/healty-environments/animal-borne-disease/
  
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Rabies Data: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/rabies-data

World Rabies Day is September 28, 2012

Everyone knows the importance of keeping our families healthy.  But, many of us don’t think about rabies when it comes to protecting the ones we love.  Recently, skunk rabies cases have been on the increase right here in Colorado.  Other animals like bats and foxes can also carry the virus. These unwanted intruders can get into your yard and on your property, putting you and your family at risk.  As of August 10, 2012, there have been 131 confirmed rabid wild animal cases in Colorado. The best way to keep your family and pets safe is to make sure all your pets have been immunized for rabies.   

 JCPH urges all pet owners to make sure their pets have current rabies shots and to keep their pets from roaming free.  Please report any incidents to the Jefferson County Animal Control office, call 303-271-5070 or email, Animal-Control@jeffco.us

• For more information on animal borne disease and prevention, call Jefferson County Public Health Zoonosis Program at 303-271-5730 or 303-271-5700.
• Information is also available on the Colorado Department of Health and Environment web site: www.cdphe.state.co.us or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov.

Get more information about World Rabies Day here.

Prevent Animal-Borne Diseases

Rabies, West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Bubonic Plague, Tularemia, and Colorado Tick Fever are all diseases that can be carried by various animals and insects (rodents, mosquitoes or ticks) and then transmitted to humans. JCPH recommends everyone help control the presence of rodents and mosquitoes around their home. When heading outdoors, particularly to areas where wild animals and insects are active, be sure to wear insect repellant, appropriate clothing and protect your pets from fleas and ticks. Remember not to handle sick or dead animals or animal waste. A few precautions go a long way towards preventing animal-borne disease. For more information on Animal Borne Disease Prevention, check out our Brochure, or got to our Zoonosis web page.

Rabies

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People get rabies from the bite of a rabies infected animal (rabid animal). Any wild mammal, such as raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote or bat can have rabies and transmit it to people through a bite. Bats are the most common carriers of rabies in Colorado and Jefferson County, however there has been an increase in skunks also reporting positive.

Rabies: Rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory. Because of the deadly nature of rabies, JCPH strongly encourages citizens not to allow their pets to roam free and to keep their pet cats, dogs and ferrets current on their rabies vaccinations. Do not handle wild animals and keep them from entering your home by using screens or closing windows, doors and other openings. If you find a dead animal, use a shovel to place bat in plastic bag, tie knot in bag and dispose of bag in outdoor trash container.

Bites and Exposures: If bitten by a bat, skunk, dog, cat, raccoon or other mammal, wash the affected area thoroughly and seek medical advice immediately. Contact local animal control agency and notify them of location of animal so that the animal can undergo appropriate testing or quarantine.

For more information on Rabies and other animal-borne diseases, visit our website at www.jeffco.us/health.

Rabies

Recently, skunk rabies has reemerged as a concern in Colorado and Jefferson County. Skunks may contract their own strain of rabies or serve as a “spillover” species for the raccoon variant. It's important to take proper precautions by calling your local animal control officer if you observe a sick, disoriented skunk.

Bats are the primary reservoirs of rabies in Colorado. Instances of rabies among other wild and domestic animals are rare. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, (CDPHE) the first reported cases of rabies occurred in Colorado in the following animals: dog (2003 - imported from Texas), cat (1985), raccoon (1963), fox (2005), skunk (2008 - see skunk surveillance protocol), and human (1931).

• For more information on rabies and other animal-borne diseases, visit our website at www.jeffco.us/health. Surveillance and other pertinent information is also available on the CDPHE web site: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/rabies/index.html

• Some great information on wildlife by the Human Society - http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_closer_look_at_wildlife/

Preventing Animal-Borne Disease

Summer is here and with it comes increased risk of certain animal-borne diseases, like rabies for instance. Rabies is a disease casued by a virus that affects wild animals, domestic animals (like pets and livestock), and humans. Recently, rabies has been found in skunks in the state of Colorado and appears to be moving west towards the Denver metro area. This is something that concerns me and those of us in public health who spend their days monitoring, educating and reporting on animal-borne disease, or zoonosis. I’m David Volkel, environmental health specialist with Jefferson County Public Health’s Zoonosis Program. Throughout the summer, I’ll be sharing with you some of the reasons why I am so passionate about what I do and give you ways you can prevent animal-borne disease.

Animal control officers, veterinarians and pet owners are reminded to take all precautions when dealing with both domestic and wild animals. Since January, 2009 there have been 14 laboratory confirmed cases of skunk rabies in the following counties: Morgan (6), Yuma (4), Lincoln (1). Kiowa (1), Kit Carson (1) and El Paso (1). The most recent case of skunk rabies occurred in northeastern El Paso County. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) has tested 22 animals for rabies so far in 2009 with three of those being bats. There have not been any positive tests for rabies yet but the possibility of rabies always exists.

These numbers mean there is an increased possibility that domestic pets may interact and become infected with rabies infected skunks or bats or other mammals. Every pet owner is urged to vaccinate their dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies.

Pet owners have an important role to play in preventing animal-borne diseases. Regular visits to the veternarian, staying up to date with vaccinations, keeping animals from roaming free are all important measures. Fortunately, the vaccination rate for dogs is fairly high because most muncipalities require a rabies vaccination for licenses, however cat vaccination rate has plenty of room for improvement. The lower vaccination rate for cats is because most muncipalities do not require cats to be licensed and there are many stray cats. Consider this, if a cat encounters a rabid bat or skunk and is not protected by a current rabies vaccination, the cat will be required to undergo a 180 day quarantine in a secure faclity (in an individual cage in a pet boarding faclity) or face euthanasia. If you feed a stray cat, by default, you are the cat owner and will be asked to make that decision. Getting your pets vaccinated, saves lives!

In addition to regular vaccination, keep you and your family safe from exposure to rabies and other diseases and parasites by not handling wild animals and instructing your children not to approach or touch wild animals. And, remember to keep bats out of your home by sealing all openings and keep screens (in good condition) on all doors and windows.

For more information on preventing animal-borne disease, please visit: http://www.health.jeffco.us/