Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com Star Paws Up Columnist, asks that all his pals get a rabies vaccine today! Don’t delay!

Sedona AZ (January 4, 2013) – The rabies virus kills 55,000 people worldwide each year and is considered one of the world’s most deadly viruses. The word “rabies” is derived from the Latin word for ‘madness.’ It is typically transmitted by animals such as dog, bat, fox, and monkey.

Yavapai County has recorded the first Arizona rabid animal attack for 2013. On January 2, 2013, a child was bitten by a fox while outside their home in Sedona, Arizona, near Elmerville Road.

The fox was captured by an Arizona Game and Fish officer and immediately transported to the Arizona State Public Health Lab to be tested for Rabies. The test came back positive on January 3, 2013.

It has been reported that a second fox behaving abnormally may be in the Sedona area. Arizona Game and Fish is asking residents to keep an eye out for the animal, and to report any suspicious animals immediately to 1-602-942-3000.

Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS) continues to strongly recommend that residents take extra precautions when near or around wild animals.

Rabies affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People and unvaccinated animals may get rabies from the bite of an infected animal, or if saliva from the animal gets directly into a person’s or animal’s eyes, nose, mouth or any break in the skin. Rabies vaccine is given to individuals after exposure to an infected animal to prevent the disease. Remember, rabies is nearly always fatal if not treated after exposure!

Follow these Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com Star Paws Up Columnist, safety tips to protect yourself and your pets from rabies:

• Be sure that all cats and dogs have current rabies vaccinations.

• Contact your veterinarian if you are unsure of the status of your pet’s rabies vaccinations, or watch for locally sponsored vaccination clinics.

• While enjoying outdoor activities, make sure pets are on leashes.

• Never handle a wild animal like a bat, raccoon, skunk, or fox.

• Wash animal bites thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

• If bitten by a wild/stray animal, quarantine the animal if possible. Call the local animal control or the Arizona Game and Fish Department to report an incident.

• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic even if they appear friendly.

• Do not handle dead or injured animals.

• When hiking, carry a form of protection such as a walking stick or pepper spray.

• Prevent wild animals from being able to enter enclosed areas, such as homes or vehicles.

• Keep vaccinations current for dogs, cats and ferrets. Keep cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision.

Rabies is found throughout the continental regions of Asia, Africa, America, and mainland Europe. For more information on rabies in Arizona, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website at www.azdhs.gov.

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