Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Put On Rabies Alert; 3 Cases Reported Locally

With the third reported case of positive test for rabies virus in Clark County residents need to pay special attention to prevention methods.

A rabies alert has been posted for the county by the Arkansas Department of Health.

According to a release from the ADH, more than 50 percent of skunks tested are rabid, with skunks being the main source for spreading rabies in the state.

There has been a high number of rabies cases in skunks reported in Clark County, with records showing less than 50 percent of dogs and 20 percent of cats aren't vaccinated against rabies.

In Gurdon, a rabies clinic will be held at the First State Bank from 5-6 p.m. Other clinics will be held at different times and locations throughout the county.

Two cases of rabies in the county have been bats. Bats are typically just migrating through the county and are not considered residential animals like skunks.

Vaccinations for cats and dogs is still the most important prevention method for rabies, according to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC).

Nevertheless, prudence and simple precautions can save lives.

Children should be especially warned never to handle any unfamiliar animal. This includes domestic or wild animals. Children should be taught to avoid stray animals and not to feed squirrels or other animals by hand in backyards, camping areas, preserves or parks.

Campers, hunters and fishermen should be cautious of contact with animal wildlife, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

Humans can catch this virus from bites from infected animals or exposure to saliva or other body fluids. Cuts, wounds or mucous membranes contaminated by body fluids would be an exposure. For example, a child seeing an animal sitting still at the edge of the yard might try to pet, only to be bitten or just come in contact with the animal's saliva could become infected. The child could put his or her finger in the mouth, therefore becoming contaminated.

If such a case should happen, the child's hand should be washed immediately in warm, soapy water and an antiseptic applied. A doctor should be called immediately.

A good principle for children to learn is, "Love your own, leave other animals alone."

Be a responsible pet owner:

Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.

Keep you 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.

Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

Only enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar. Humans should not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.

Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.

Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone," is the principle children should remember.

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 and pets.

When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals. Be especially careful around dogs in developing countries.

Use caution capturing any animal for testing. But there's no need to be frightened by the cost of having an animal tested. According to ADH, all rabies testing is free.

If a human suspects contact has been made with a rabid animal proper authorities should be contacted. Only head, though, should be sent to the Department of Health in Little Rock. Call Clark County Health Department for instructions for preparing and submitting specimens.

Never shoot a dog or cat in the head. Never leave an animal out in the sun several hours or days before submitting for testing. Decomposed animals can not be tested for rabies.

No one is turned down for lack of money in receiving the rabies treatments. If you or your children were unable to pay for these fairly expensive treatments arrangements will be made to help cover the cost.

There's no longer a need for fearing the treatment itself either. Two products are used in rabies post-exposure treatment.

Human rabies immune Globulin: give once on the first day of treatment.

Human diploid cell vaccine: administered in five injections (in the arm) over 28 days.

This anti-rabies treatment with vaccine and globulin has proven 100 percent effective if administered within 14 days of the exposure. Doctors don't want you to wait that long, however. Treatment should start as soon as possible.

To report any suspected case or for assistance in such matters call:

Clark County Health Unit in Arkadelphia at 870-246-4471; or

Gurdon City Hall, Carroll Martin, animal control, 870-353-2514.