For Immediate Release

September 28, 2016

Contact: John Bott (DACF), 207-287-3156
                Samantha Edwards (DHHS-CDC), 207-287-5012

Today is the 10th anniversary of World Rabies Day!

Augusta – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) are teaming up with health practitioners, rabies experts and activists worldwide to celebrate World Rabies Day, today. September 28, 2016 is the 10th anniversary of World Rabies Day.

“We see this as an opportunity to show how important it is to prevent rabies in our community,” said Dr. Rachael Fiske, Assistant State Veterinarian for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory in Augusta has reported 50 rabies positive animals this year as of September 11, 2016, a higher than average number.

“Pet owners can keep themselves and their pets safe by keeping their pet’s vaccinations up-to-date,” said Dr. Siiri Bennett, State Epidemiologist. “With the proper awareness and guidelines in place we can prevent transmission.”

Rabies remains the world’s most deadly disease, but it is also 100% preventable. 55,000 people worldwide die each year from rabies, at a cost of $4 billion (US), and nearly half of these deaths are in Africa (44%). Rabies is transmitted from animals (mammals) to humans, and the main source of the disease in African countries is unvaccinated dogs. Controlling the disease in dog populations means it will disappear in all other species, and will no longer be such a risk to humans.

The State of Maine World Rabies Day Committee identified Animal Control Officers and Law Enforcement Officers that perform animal control duties as a target population for outreach efforts in 2016. The committee has pooled their resources to provide packets of information that have been distributed to each town in Maine for use by animal control personnel.

How to help prevent the spread of rabies:

• Vaccinate pet cats (even those that are only indoor cats) and dogs against rabies and keep them up-to-date  (It is the law)
• Avoid contact with wild animals or animals that you do not know
• Bat proof your home. Wildlife biologists can provide tips on how to do this without harming bats while still preventing them from entering the home
• Report all exposures to Maine CDC (1-800-821-5821) or a healthcare provider

The World Rabies Day initiative, managed by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, aims to bring together partners in communities and health services worldwide in an effort to address rabies prevention and control. Additional information is available online at http://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day

###