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Tewksbury Board of Health
RABIES
PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERNS March
17, 1998
It is an established fact that rabies is once
again prevalent in Massachusetts. Rabies is a communicable disease
that is spread among mammals via bodily fluids. The current strain
has come North via the raccoon population, but has crossed over to
skunks, woodchucks, foxes, horses, cattle, and any other exposed
mammals. During the last year, skunks were the primary carriers of
the disease, but we expect the raccoon population to replenish
itself this year, which will allow the disease to run through it
again.
Symptoms
·
Animal appears dumb or stupid
·
Very aggressive
·
Mucous discharge from the eyes, mouth, and nasal
passages
·
Partial of full paralysis of the body (especially
the hind quarters)
Handling
the Animal
When handling a wild animal, use universal
precautions: ASSUME
IT IS SICK, even if it shows no symptoms. Allow no direct
contact with its bodily fluids, but if there is, notify your
supervisor immediately, and we will determine if post exposure
treatment is needed. The dispatchers have access to my home
telephone number, as well as my beeper, and I will respond for you.
There is no need to kill an animal simply
because it appears during the day; this is not an unusual
occurrence. If it does not appear to be ill, and it is not
threatening anyone or a domestic animal, allow it to go its own way.
Remember that we are in the environment of those wild animals as
much as they are in ours.
You must use your best professional judgment to
determine if the animal must be killed; you are on scene, and have
the best vantage point. If you must kill it, be sure to keep your
distance. It will take several shots to dispatch it, so do not
handle it immediately: use only a shovel or other utensil. If the
animal has bitten a domestic animal or a human, do
not shoot the animal in the head. The animal will have to be
tested for rabies, and the only way to do that is to look at its
brain (we can’t collect it after its been splattered around a
yard).
Handling the Bite
If someone or their animal
is bitten by a wild animal, we want that wild animal for testing.
If you shoot the animal, have the dispatcher call or page the
Board of Health. Someone will respond to collect the animal and
have it tested, as well as advise the victim on what medical
services to seek. If a response will be delayed for some reason,
advise the victim to move the dead animal to a cool shaded
location, and place a bag of ice on it to slow decomposition.
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