Friday, May 7th 2010 at the FSST Natural Resources Department & Land Management offices, rabies vaccinations were administered by Dr. Steve Wilson USDA veterinarian, and assisted by Martin Stephens Lt. U.S. Public Health Service
Local FSST tribal members braved the windy, rainy conditions with their furry family members to ensure the safety of our community. Some of the animals resisted being kenneled for the trip to the Natural Resources and Land Management offices, but none more than Brownsfield Director’s Elizabeth Wake man’s Great Dane who preferred to run to his vaccination.
Vaccinations began at 10pm till 4pm, vaccinat ing a total of 10 dogs, and 18 cats. Some of the animals received a three year vaccine while other received a 1yr vaccination cause of different breed immunities as well as prior shot record.
Thank you to the FSST Natural Resources and Land Management Department for coordinating this event, as well as a thank you to Dr. Willson and Martin Stephens, last but not least a thank you to the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service for providing th e vaccine and supplies.
Rabies
Although today rabies seldom results in human fatalities in the United States, it remains a potentially dangerous public health problem. Each year, more than 20,000 Americans have to undergo rabies treatments as a result of exposure to potentially rabid animals. Through conscientious efforts by state and local health agencies, the incidence of rabies continues to decline. Even so, approximately 3,000 cases are confirmed every year in this country.
All warm-blooded animals can spread rabies. The majority of the animal rabies cases in the United States are found in wildlife, particularly in skunks, foxes, and bats, and in domestic farm animals. Among domestic pets, dogs and cats are the most commonly infected species. Therefore, every pet owner has the responsibility of helping to prevent rabies outbreaks. This responsibility includes cooperating with community-sponsored rabies control programs, knowing what to do if bitten be a pet, stray or a wild animal.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is one of the scores of both human and animal diseases known to be caused by a virus. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and, if the disease is not prevented causes the death of its victim.
Rabies is transmitted from animals to man from a bite from the rabid animal. The wound is contaminated with the virus found in the saliva of the infected animal. Usually, the sign of rabies develop within 2 weeks to 3 months after the bite has been on the head or face and is of a severe nature, symptoms may manifest themselves in as few as 10 days. With slight wounds, the period extending from the time of a bite until symptoms of rabies occur is longer and has been known-through rarely-”Dumb” and “Furious” rabies. Furious rabies in a dog, for example, can be recognized with certain specific signs. At first, the dog infected with the virus will act strangely. There will be a departure from normal habits – either the animals will be unnaturally withdrawn or abnormally affectionate. Following this stage, which lasts about 2 days, the dog usually wonders far afield. And it is then that the most damage is done, for it is during this period of roving that he is “Mad.”
The dog will bite anything in its path, thus infecting people or other animals with the fatal virus. It is also during this period that the dog appears to be frothing at the mouth-the familiar symbol of the “mad” or rabid dog. Actually, this is caused by drooling of the saliva due to difficulty in swallowing. When the roving is over, the animal may come home to die. Returning to his familiar haunts, he finds an isolated place to suffer his final paroxysms, lapse into a paralytic state, and die.
“Dumb” rabies differs in that there is no roving of “mad” period. Paralysis, usually of the lower jaw, is the first recognizable symptom. This soon spreads to the limbs and vital organs, resulting very shortly in death.
The signs of dumb rabies may be confused with the signs indicating an obstruction in the throat, or choke or colic. Such misjudgment can lead to needless human exposure to rabies.
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