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A horse in LaSalle County tested
positive for rabies at the Illinois Department of Agriculture
laboratory in Galesburg on Dec.10. Eleven people received rabies
preventative treatment following exposure to the horse.
On Dec. 27, the Department of Public
Health received test results from the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention that identified the virus infecting the horse
as a skunk strain of rabies, indicating the horse was probably
bitten by a rabid skunk. The Department of Public Health is asking
local animal control agencies and the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources to increase skunk surveillance in a three-county area
including LaSalle, Lee and DeKalb. This surveillance will be used to
determine if the virus is circulating widely in skunks in this area
of the state.
"This horse is the first mammal
other than a bat to have developed rabies in the state since 1998,"
said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. "We
encourage citizens to avoid contact with wild, unfamiliar or stray
animals to avoid possible exposure to the rabies virus."
Rabies is an infectious viral
disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals.
Rabies is most commonly transmitted to people through the bite of a
rabid animal. Rabies is almost always a fatal disease once symptoms
appear. Prompt rabies treatment after exposures can prevent the
development of rabies.
"With proper vaccination, rabies is
a preventable disease in the animal population," said Dr. Colleen
O'Keefe, acting state veterinarian. "Therefore, I would recommend
that pet owners, especially those in LaSalle, Lee and DeKalb
counties, vaccinate their cats and dogs and that farmers and horse
owners in the area consider vaccinating their animals."
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Any wild animal, like a raccoon, skunk,
fox, coyote or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people.
Animals with rabies may not be foaming at the mouth or showing
aggressive behavior. Changes in the animal's normal behavior, such
as difficulty walking or just an overall appearance of illness, can
be early signs of rabies. For example, skunks, which normally are
nocturnal and avoid contact with people, may appear friendly or
aggressive and may approach humans during daylight hours.
Currently, bats are the primary source
of rabies in Illinois. Fifty bats have been identified with rabies
so far this year, the highest number seen during a single calendar
year.
Illinois
residents, particularly in the area of LaSalle, Lee and DeKalb
counties, should take the following precautions:
- Vaccinate pets and valuable
livestock or horses after consultation with a veterinarian.
- Stay away from wild, unfamiliar
or stray animals to avoid bites that may transmit rabies.
- Report sightings of skunks that
are acting abnormally, seen during daylight hours, having trouble
walking, being aggressive or approaching humans.
- Contact your physician and local
health department if you or someone in your family is bitten by an
animal or exposed to a bat.
Contact your local animal control
and veterinarian if you believe your pet may have been bitten by a
wild mammal (i.e. skunks, raccoons, fox, coyotes or bats).
[Illinois
Department of Public Health]
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