Rabies Awareness was observed last week September 24-30th in Virginia in coordination with World Rabies Day on Friday September 28th. The Eastern Shore Health District offers the following recommendations to protect your family from the deadly rabies virus:
- Have your veterinarian vaccinate your dogs, cats, ferrets, and selected livestock. Keep the vaccinations up-to-date.
- If your pet is attacked or bitten by a wild animal, report it to the local health or animal control authorities. Be sure your vaccinated pet also receives an immediate booster vaccination.
- Limit the possibility of exposure by keeping your animals on your property. Don’t let pets roam free.
- Do not leave garbage or pet food outside. It may attract wild or stray animals.
- Do not keep wild animals as pets. Enjoy all wild animals from a distance, even if they seem friendly. A rabid animal sometimes acts tame. If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to your local animal control department and do not go near it yourself.
For more information about rabies in Virginia, please visit
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/rabies-control/.
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