Rabies and Pets
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals usually transmitted to people by a bite or scratch from an infected animal. The virus attacks the nervous system and once signs appear, the disease is usually fatal.
Over the last 100 years, rabies in the United States has changed dramatically. More than 90% of all animal cases reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now occur in wildlife; before 1960 the majority were in domestic animals. This is primarily due to the vaccination of domestic animals, including cats and dogs. The principal rabies hosts today are foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and bats.
Many people think rabies is not a problem anymore but a few human cases (usually from exposure to bats) are reported in the U.S. every year. In many other countries rabies is a significant concern so travelers should be aware of this risk and avoid unknown animals, especially free roaming dogs.
Infected animals may show a variety of signs, including fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing (aversion to water), staggering, or seizures. Rabid wild animals may only show unusual behavior; for example, an animal that is usually only seen at night may wander around during the day time.
Rabies vaccination of your cat and dog is the best method of prevention and is required by law in many communities including Cook County.
If your pet is bitten by an animal consult with your veterinarian immediately and report the bite to local animal control authorities (in Cook County - Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control). Your pet may need to be re-vaccinated or in some cases, placed under quarantine.
If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Call your physician immediately and follow their advice. If possible, confine or capture that animal that bit you but only if you can so safely and without getting bitten again. Call the local animal control authorities (Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control or in the city of Chicago, Chicago Animal Care and Control) to collect the animal. If the animal cannot be captured, try to remember its appearance and location. All mammal bites to humans must be reported to the local police department.
