Northeast Arkansas has rabies outbreak

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has confirmed that a bull has died this week of rabies near Everton in Boone County. Rabies in Arkansas is most often found in skunks. Reports of cattle being infected with rabies are relatively rare—the last time was a cow in Hempstead County in 2007. A rabid skunk was discovered in January on property adjacent to the farm on which the rabid bull became ill and died, but it is not known whether the two occurrences are linked. So far this yea,r ADH has recorded seven rabid skunks statewide in addition to the bull in Boone County.
Susan Weinstein, DVM, Arkansas Public Health veterinarian, said that the presence of rabies in one animal in the area is a warning sign.

“What we know is that when we find a skunk with rabies in a local area, there are usually more rabid skunks in the wild that will never be discovered,” Weinstein said. “That puts the local animal population at risk, especially dogs, cats and livestock.”

Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and spinal cord and is a fatal disease. It is most often seen in animals such as skunks, bats and foxes. Cats, dogs, ferrets and livestock can also develop rabies, especially if they are not vaccinated. In 2011, Arkansas had 60 rabies positive animals, including 53 skunks, six bats and one cat. Each year the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory tests 850 to 1000 animals for rabies, and averages 35 to 40 positive cases.

The rabies virus lives in the saliva (spit) and nervous tissues of infected animals and is spread when they bite or scratch. The virus also may be spread if saliva from an infected animal touches broken skin, open wounds or the lining of the mouth, eyes or nose.

The first sign of rabies in an animal is usually a change in behavior. Rabid animals may attack people or other animals for no reason, or they may lose their fear of people and seem unnaturally friendly. Staggering, convulsions, choking, frothing at the mouth and paralysis are often present. Skunks may be seen out in daylight, which is an unusual behavior for them, or they may get into a dog pen or under a house. Many animals have a marked change in voice pitch, such as a muted or off-key tone. Cattle often show slobbering, a huge change in their behavior, a persistent bellowing and get may excited easily. An animal usually dies within one week of demonstrating signs of rabies. Not all rabid animals act in these ways, however, so  you should avoid all wild animals—especially skunks, bats and stray cats and dogs.

If you think you have become exposed to an animal with rabies, wash your wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. Contact your physician and county health unit immediately and report the incident. The animal in question should be captured, if possible, without damaging its head or risking further exposure.

All dogs and cats in Arkansas are required to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. This not only protects the animal, but also acts as a barrier between the wildlife exposures of rabies and people, as our pets are more likely to be exposed to a rabid skunk directly than we are. Horses and livestock also should be vaccinated against rabies. Children especially should be reminded not to touch wild animals and to stay away from stray pets.

If an apparently healthy domesticated dog or cat bites a person, it must be captured, confined and observed daily for 10 days following the bite. If the animal remains healthy during this period of time, it did not transmit rabies at the time of the bite. Since there are no known time intervals for the length of infectivity in other animals, the brain tissue of all wild animals must be tested for rabies if human exposure has occurred.

What can you do to protect yourselves against rabies?

• Be sure your dogs, cats and ferrets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations

• Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals

• Keep family pets indoors at night

• Bat-proof your home or summer camp in the fall or winter (The majority of human rabies cases are caused by bat bites.)

• Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if any animal bites them

• Teach children to avoid wildlife, strays and all other animals they do not know well

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the local health unit. Do not let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies. Depending on the species, an animal can be observed or tested for rabies in order to avoid the need for rabies treatment.

For more information, call your county Health Unit, or Dr. Weinstein at (501) 280-4136.