Officials in New Jersey have issued a warning about rabid animals in a southern county neighboring Philadelphia.
The county’s sixth animal to be confirmed rabid was a skunk that interacted with two dogs in a resident’s backyard.
Officials in Gibbsboro, Camden County, stated that the skunk did not injure the dogs, which could have infected them with the rabies virus, but the owner could not confirm whether one of her dogs had been vaccinated.
Both dogs received rabies boosters after the encounter; however, they still need to be quarantined to watch for any rabies symptoms, including personality changes and seizures. One dog will be quarantined at home for 45 days, while the other, which may not have been vaccinated, will have to quarantine for four months, likely in a state-approved animal facility.
Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department, said in a statement: ‘Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment.
‘If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.’
There have not been any human exposures to the fatal virus in the state this year, according to county officials. But unvaccinated pets that come into contact with rabid animals and become infected can then pass the virus to their owner through bites.
Over the past month, dozens of county governments from Maine to Wyoming have issued urgent warnings to residents and tourists about a surge in rabies cases among local wildlife, putting communities at risk.
A skunk that came into contact with two family dogs has tested positive for rabies, marking the sixth confirmed case of the virus in a southern New Jersey county this year
One day before the skunk was discovered in Gibbsboro, a family dog in Barrington, New Jersey, about 15 minutes away, killed a raccoon that later tested positive for rabies.
Three family members and both family dogs were potentially exposed to rabies.
They were advised to consult their physician about rabies post-exposure prophylaxis treatment, which consists of a fast-acting antibody shot followed by a four-dose series of shots administered over a 14-day period.
Without a quick response to a bite or scratch from a rabid animal, the disease is nearly 100 percent fatal. Over 90 percent of animal cases reported to the CDC are in wildlife, though one to three Americans die of the disease every year.
There are typically fewer than 10 cases of rabies in the US each year. In recent years, the number of cases has ranged from one to five.
Four other animals, including a cat and two additional raccoons, have been confirmed to have rabies in New Jersey this year.
Although the US eliminated a specific canine rabies virus variant in 2007 through widespread vaccination of pets, the disease remains a threat.
Rabies is still transmitted by wildlife, including bats, raccoons, and skunks.
During a vacation to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona, Erica Kahn was photographing the night sky when a bat flew directly into her open mouth.
Understanding the severe risk of rabies, her doctor father insisted she get the lifesaving post-exposure vaccine series immediately.
Erica Kahn, who was visiting the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona, was photographing the night sky when she saw bats flying in the area. One of them flew toward her face and, when she screamed, the bat flew into her mouth
Kahn, 33, enrolled in a health insurance plan, believing that she would be covered for the imminent two weeks of spaced-out rabies vaccinations. Then the bills came
But as she was between jobs and uninsured, Kahn urgently purchased a private health insurance policy, believing she had secured coverage for the necessary medical treatment.
Kahn soon discovered that her new insurance plan had a standard 30-day waiting period before coverage began, a detail she had missed.
Consequently, she was left responsible for over $20,000 in medical bills for the rabies vaccinations, as the insurer denied all her claims.
Unvaccinated pets can contract the virus from these animals and transmit it to humans through their saliva.
While human deaths are rare in the US, the risk of exposure appears to be rising.
This summer, more than 200 tourists from 38 states were potentially exposed to the near-always fatal virus by a bat colony at Wyoming’s Jackson Lake Lodge, prompting a massive health outreach effort.
In a separate incident earlier this month, a rabid fox attacked and bit two people in Aberdeen, North Carolina, who are now undergoing post-exposure treatment.
Following a bite, the rabies virus invades the peripheral nerves and travels to the brain, causing severe inflammation that can be fatal.
A 77-year-old unnamed man in North Carolina was bitten by the same animal on his leg (pictured) on his birthday
It attacks the brainstem, which disrupts the vital control of breathing and heart rate. Damage to the brain also triggers severe symptoms, including aggression, hallucinations, and a fear of water caused by painful throat spasms.
Once clinical symptoms emerge, the disease is nearly always fatal within days.
Infected animals often exhibit erratic behavior, including biting themselves, excessive drooling, growling, and impaired coordination.
Nocturnal animals, such as foxes, raccoons, and bats, may appear disoriented and active during the day. Rabid bats may be grounded or fly in erratic circles.
In North Carolina earlier this month, a young mother was attacked by a rabid fox after stepping outside her home to investigate noises resembling a cat under her car. The fox immediately bit her leg and, when she tried to defend herself, bit her hand as well.
After officers arrived and narrowly missed capturing the animal as it fled into nearby woods, they received a second call reporting a similar attack just a short distance away. There, a 77-year-old man had been bitten on the leg by the same fox.
Deputies from Moore County Animal Services later located, captured, and euthanized the fox, which subsequently tested positive for rabies.
Both victims received appropriate medical care for their injuries and potential exposure to the deadly virus.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .