For Immediate Release
August 19, 2008
CONTACT: Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department ofLivestock
406-444-9431
Rabies warning issued for Glendive mobile home park
Residents of the Casitas Del Rio Mobile Home Park and surrounding areas in Glendive are being warned about a source for potential exposure to rabies. One dog at the mobile home park, located west of the Yellowstone River on Highway 16, is dead from rabies, and three other animals have had varying levels of exposure to the disease.
"It's a serious situation, and we want people to be aware of both the human health and animal health risks that may be present," said Dr. Martin Zaluski, state veterinarian for the Montana Department of Livestock. "If your animals have had contact with the animals at #91 Casitas Del Rio, you should contact a veterinarian immediately."
Owners of the dog that died, which was chained up outside the residence, also had another dog and a cat that were exposed to the disease through contact with the infected animal. A third animal – a puppy that was temporarily at the residence – also may have exposed.
"This is a classic example of why animals need to be vaccinated against rabies," Zaluski said. "Rabies is preventable with inexpensive rabies vaccinations, which are legally required in both Dawson County and the city of Glendive."
Animal health and law enforcement officials are currently attempting to contact owners of the exposed dog and cat, and determine the whereabouts of the animals. The exposed animals will have to be euthanized or impounded in an approved quarantine facility for 180 days at the owners' expense. Animal health officials will also be on location this week to distribute information about rabies.
Treatment with a prophylaxis vaccine has been recommended by the Dawson County Health Department for nine people who were potentially exposed to the disease.
Dawson County is now under a rabies quarantine, which means unvaccinated pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) can enter, but cannot leave, the county during the 60-day quarantine period. Yellowstone County is also under a 60-day rabies quarantine, effective August 8, due to an unrelated incident involving rabies in wild animals.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Only mammals – humans, dogs, cats, ferrets – can get rabies, and most cases occur in wild animals such as skunks, raccoons and bats. The virus is transmitted by a bite from an infected animal. Prompt treatment for humans is required after being bitten to stop the development of the disease, or death will occur. There is no treatment for animals.
What to look for
The most common sign of rabies is abnormal behavior. The disease can take two different forms: Dumb or furious. With the dumb form, animals become shy or hide, are often unapproachable, and may act sluggish, depressed or confused. With the furious form, animals are excitable, irritable and aggressive, and may attack suddenly without provocation. Other signs include drooling, inability to eat, drink or swallow (the animal may appear to be choking), a change in vocalization, frothing at the mouth, staggering, weakness, convulsions and paralysis. Animals normally become comatose prior to death.
What to do if…
- Your animals have had contact with the animals at #91 Casitas Del Rio Mobile Home Park: Contact your veterinarian immediately!
- You were bitten: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Contact your doctor and explain how you were bitten. If possible, capture or identify the animal, and report the bite to animal control and local health officials.
- Your pet is bitten: Report the incident to local animal control officials and immediately take your pet to a veterinarian.
- Your pet bites someone: Make sure that the bite victim seeks medical attention. Contact your veterinarian to confirm that vaccinations are up to date, and report the bite to animal health officials. Your pet will have to be confined and monitored for 10 days.
- You suspect a live animal of having rabies: Try to identify the animal and location, but stay away! Contact animal control officials to report the animal and location.
- You suspect a dead animal of having rabies: Contact animal control officials to report the location. Do not destroy the head, which is needed for testing.
Most of all…
- Vaccinate your pet!
For additional information about rabies, see the MDOL web site at http://liv.mt.gov/liv/ah/diseases/rabies/general.asp, the Montana Department of Health & Human Services web site at http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/PHSD/epidemiology/commun-disease-epi-index.shtml, and the Centers for Disease Control web site at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
Contact Information:
- Dawson County Health Department: 406-377-5213
- Glendive Police Department: 406/377-2364
- Dawson County Sheriff's Department: 406/377-5291
- Montana Department of Livestock: 406/444-2043
- Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services: 406/444-0273
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