 Health
Department Announces Dog Found
Westminster, MD (October
20, 2017) – The Carroll County Health Department is pleased to
announce that the dog that bit a person on Friday, October 6th near
Westminster City Park in Westminster has been identified. The owner came
forward after reading the press release in the Carroll County Times.
Because the dog was up to date on its rabies
vaccine, the person who was bitten did not have to receive post-exposure rabies
shots. In cases where the biting animal
is not identified and verified to be vaccinated, the bite victim must endure a
series of shots as a precautionary measure due to the significant risk that
rabies presents.
Rabies is a viral disease in mammals that is spread
through the saliva of infected animals. It is often spread by a bite. In
Maryland, rabies is most frequently found in wildlife such as raccoons, foxes,
skunks, and bats. Domestic animals, including livestock, can also become
infected. Cats are the most common domestic animal infected with rabies.
To prevent rabies:
·
Vaccinate your dogs, cats and ferrets
regularly.
·
Do not let pets roam free.
·
Enjoy wildlife from a distance.
·
Teach children to stay away from animals
they don’t know.
·
Cover garbage cans securely and do not
leave pet food outside.
·
Prevent bats from entering your home.
·
Report bites and other animal exposures
to your local health department, animal control agency, or police.
For more information on rabies, visit the Health
Department’s rabies control page at http://cchd.maryland.gov/environmental-health-rabies-control/.
For kid-friendly rabies education, you can visit the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s page, https://www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/.
For additional information, contact:
Joe Mancuso,
410-876-1884
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