Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The New Mexico Department of Health urges pet and livestock owners in De Baca County and surrounding area to vaccinate their animals against rabies after a cat tested positive for rabies last week.
It was the first cat that tested positive for rabies in De Baca County based on records that go back to 1966.
“This positive rabies test in a cat shows the importance of keeping pets, horses and valuable livestock up-to-date on rabies vaccinations,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist. “Domestic animals can come into contact with rabid wild animals and then transmit the disease to humans.”
Barn cats and feral cat colonies also are urged to be vaccinated against rabies.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects all mammals and can be prevented but not cured. Most rabies cases reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each year occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. Rabies vaccination of dogs and cats is mandated by state law. Unvaccinated pets exposed to a rabid animal must be euthanized or put into strict isolation for six months to prevent them from exposing people to the disease.
“A cat that tests positive for rabies is an indication that there may be other wildlife in the area with the disease,” Smelser said. “People need to avoid contact with all wild animals as several species are known to carry rabies. If you are bitten by a wild mammal, seek medical attention immediately.”
The Department of Health recommends the following to keep people safe from rabies:
— Keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wear current license tags on their collar. If a cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call the pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.
— Horses and other livestock should be considered for rabies vaccines to protect them from rabid animals that may attack.
— Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals, alive or dead.
— If you or someone you know are bitten by an animal or come into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.
— If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild mammal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.
— If you see a sick or dead wild animal or a wild animal acting abnormally, report it to animal control authorities or the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at (505) 827-9376. Rabid animals may show no fear of people and be aggressive, or they may be quiet and can even seem friendly.