"...Rabies in Los Angeles County
Historically, rabies exposures in Los Angeles County have been associated with contact with bats. Rabid bat detections can vary year-to-year, but Los Angeles County has seen a steady upward trend for more than a decade. Peak season typically occurs in late summer. So far this year, there has been a record-breaking 70 rabid bats confirmed in Los Angeles County.
Public Health Reminds Everyone in Los Angeles County: Never Touch a Wild Animal & Vaccinate Your Pets
The two most important rules are simple:
Never touch a bat or any wild animal, and never allow pets to interact with them. Even small or unnoticed bites can transmit rabies.
Vaccinate your pets: Rabies is 100% fatal in animals once symptoms begin, but completely preventable through vaccination. This includes vaccinating indoor-only cats and older pets, and ensuring your pets stay current on their rabies vaccine. Protecting your pets from rabies is one of the best ways to protect your whole family.
Other safety practices include:
If you are bitten by a wild mammal (raccoon, skunk, opossum, coyote, etc.), seek medical advice immediately and report to Public Health: Rabies is preventable with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a series of timely vaccines.
If your pet is bitten by a wild mammal (raccoon, skunk, opossum, coyote, etc.), seek veterinary care immediately and report to your local animal control and Public Health. Your pet will need rabies vaccine and temporarily quarantine at home for observation.
Know signs of illness in bats and other wildlife: Wildlife that are ill may act more aggressive, may try to interact more with humans and pets, act sick or uncoordinated. Bats are nocturnal. Bats that are active during the day, on the ground, or unable to fly may be sick. Contact your local animal control immediately for collection and testing.
Report bats and sick wildlife right away: If you notice sick wildlife, do not approach it, nor let your pet approach it. Call your local animal control. If you find a bat in or outside your home, especially near a sleeping person, child, or pet, carefully cover it with a box or container if it is safe to do so and call animal control immediately for collection and testing. Do not release it.
Avoid attracting wildlife or free-roaming animals: Do not leave pet food outdoors. Do not feed or touch free-roaming animals.
Maintain your property: Keep trash in containers with tightly fitting lids. Close off crawl spaces and seal openings where animals can enter, hide, or find food. Keep your yard free of debris and trim overgrown plants and bushes.
About Rabies
Rabies is a nearly 100% fatal viral disease in people and animals caused by the rabies virus. It is most commonly transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, or when saliva from a rabid animal comes into contact with an open wound or mucous membranes (such as the eyes, nose, or mouth). The virus affects the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal; however, timely administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a potential exposure is highly effective at preventing disease.
Symptoms include:
In people: initially fever, weakness, headache; progressing to tingling sensation, anxiety, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, coma, death.
In animals: initially non-specific signs (vomiting, respiratory distress) progressing into neurologic signs - circling, difficulties walking, behavior change, aggression, paralysis, hydrophobia (fear of water), death.
Rabies can affect both wild and domestic animals. In the United States, most reported animal rabies cases occur among wildlife, particularly bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes. People become infected through contact with infected animals, including pets or wildlife. The virus is not spread through casual contact, touching an animal, or through blood, urine, or feces.
For more information, visit: http://ph.lacounty.gov/rabies"
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