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ORLANDO – The Orange County Health Department is issuing a rabies alert, in cooperation with Orange County Animal Services, for all of Orange County due to two wild raccoons and one dog that were found to have rabies in the last three weeks. The captured raccoons and the dog tested positive for rabies after three separate incidents. Two dogs that came in contact with the rabid raccoons are under a 45-day home quarantine for rabies. Since the beginning of this year, nine animals, seven raccoons, one feral cat, and one dog have tested positive for rabies in different areas across Orange County. During the month of April a rabies alert was issued in East Orange County after several animals tested positive then.
All citizens in Orange County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and poses a risk to humans and unvaccinated domestic animals. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness of rabies in Orange County. Alerts are designed to increase public awareness, but should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not been named under an alert.
"Rabies is a potentially deadly disease. Parents need to supervise small children carefully and be aware of unusual acting animals," said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, Director of the Orange County Health Department.
Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus. Rabies is transmitted through exposure to the saliva and nervous tissue from a rabid animal through a bite, scratch, or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. The early signs of rabies can be fever or headache, but this changes quickly to nervous system signs, such as confusion, sleepiness, or agitation. Once someone with the rabies infection starts having these symptoms, the disease is almost always fatal. The only effective treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunizations before signs of illness develop. This is why it is very important to talk to your doctor or health care provider right away if any animal bites you, especially a wild animal.
The Orange County Health Department urges the public to help protect themselves and to prevent the spread of rabies by taking the following steps:
- Homeowners in the alert area should be sure that their pets are fully immunized against rabies.
- Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals.
- If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Orange County Animal Services at (407) 836-3111.
- Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, and coyotes.
- Wild animals and stray pets should not be approached. Do not handle, feed, or attract wild or stray animals.
- Unusual acting animals should be reported to Orange County Animal Services at 407-836-3111.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people or pets.
- Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
- Do not leave pet food outside. This may attract other animals.
For questions regarding the health of an animal, contact a veterinarian. Veterinarian staff and animal control staff should be alert for animals encountered with signs suspicious for rabies and contact the Orange County Health Department at 407-521-2630 with reports of such animals. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by wild animals or strays should report the incident to their doctor immediately, as well as Orange County Animal Services and their local health department. The contact number to report an animal bite to Orange County Health Department is (407) 858-1420.
Orange County receives reports of rabid animals each year. High risk animals for rabies exposure to humans and pets are foxes, raccoons, bats, skunks, otters, and coyote stray or feral cats and dogs pose an increased risk of exposure due to lack of rabies immunizations. Very low risk animals for human exposure are squirrels, rabbits, opossums and rodents. For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health or contact the Orange County Health Department, Environmental Health Office at 407-521-2630.
The Orange County Animal Services offers free rabies vaccinations for your dogs and cats through the "Pet Amnesty Day" program. This outreach and education event provides an opportunity for the Animal Services mobile clinic to enter targeted communities to offer free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats over four months old (five pets per household please). It also provides citizens the opportunity to surrender pets they are no longer able to care for. The next scheduled event is: Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Cypress Grove Park located at 290 Holden Ave., Orlando, FL 32839.
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