Rabies :: Health Department Information

BINGHAMTON, NY - Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is transmitted through the saliva of a rabid animal. You may also get rabies if the animal's saliva enters a scratch, an open cut, or a person's eyes, nose or mouth, states Claudia Edwards, Director of Public Health in Broome County. If exposed, rabies is almost always fatal without post-exposure treatment.

Rabies is most common among wild animals, such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes. But rabies has been found in all but one of New York State's 62 counties. However, Ms. Edwards said, not all bats carry rabies. Approximately 95 percent of bats submitted to the New York State Health Department for testing were negative for rabies.

The first sign of rabies is usually a change in the animal's behavior. It may become unusually aggressive or unusually tame. The animal may lose fear of people and natural enemies; become excited or irritable; or, it may appear affectionate and friendly. Staggering, convulsions, spitting, choking, frothing at the mouth and paralysis are other symptoms the animal may display. Usually, the animal dies within one week after showing signs of rabies.

To protect yourself and your family from rabies:

• Don't feed, touch or adopt wild animals, or stray dogs or cats. If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away. Bring children and pets indoors, and alert neighbors who are outside. If the animal doesn't leave on its won, you may want to contact a nuisance wildlife control officer who will remove the animal for a fee.
• Keep family pets indoors at night. Don't leave them outside unattended or let them roam free. Be sure your dogs, cats and ferrets after three months of age are effective for one year. Re-vaccinations in dogs and cats are effective for up to three years. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors.
• Tightly cap or put away garbage cans to discourage foraging by wildlife. Do not feed pets outside. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage.
• Bats can be particularly difficult to keep out of buildings, because they can get through small cracks. If a bat does get inside your home, contact the Broome County Health Department about ways to remove it. Remember to bat-proof your home and summer camp during the fall and winter, by sealing up any holes larger than one-quarter inch by 2 inches.
• Tell children not to touch any animal they do not know. Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten by any animal.

For more information on protecting yourself and your family from rabies, call the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.3911, option 1.

Diane O'Hora, Supervising Public Health Educator,
Broome County Health Department, 607.778.3921
email: dohora@co.broome.ny.us

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