Rabid Cat Confirmed In Dover Mobile Home Park

DOVER – A cat living at Kings Cliff Mobile Home Park in Dover has tested positive for rabies. The Division of Public Health (DPH) is working closely with Dover Animal Control who is helping to alert the neighborhood by going door-to-door with flyers. DPH has recommended to three individuals to begin post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies. Anyone who thinks they may have been bitten, scratched, or had saliva contact with a feral cat or cats in the Kings Cliff area should contact their healthcare provider, or call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 888-295-5156. The rabid cat found at Kings Cliff was a calico female, a mix of yellow, brown, black, and gray.

DPH reminds residents that rabies is endemic in Delaware. Residents should always take precautions against rabies by avoiding wild or unfamiliar animals and ensuring their pets are up-to-date with rabies shots.

Infection can occur through the bite or scratch of an infected animal or if saliva from such an animal gets into the eyes, nose, mouth or an opening in the skin. Rabies cannot be cured once symptoms appear. Therefore if a person is potentially exposed to an animal that tests positive for rabies, they will have to receive rabies shots (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent the disease from developing.

Since January 2015, DPH has performed rabies tests on 87 animals, nine of which were confirmed to be rabid, including this cat. DPH only tests animals for rabies when there is potential human exposure. This means there may be many more infected wild animals than suggested by these numbers.

Signs of rabies in animals include daytime activity in normally nocturnal animals, wild animals approaching humans or other animals, and difficulty walking or moving. Some rabid animals may be very aggressive, while others may be very weak and have excessive salivation. Keep people and pets away from animals with any unusual behavior.

Take the following steps to avoid rabies:

  • Do not feed stray animals.
  • Never handle wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, or foxes. This includes sick, injured or dead animals.
  • If you wake up in a room with a bat present, seek medical attention regardless of the evidence of a bite or a scratch and call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 888-295-5156. If possible, trap the bat for testing. Do not release the bat.
  • If bitten by an animal, place the wound under a running tap water and clean it thoroughly using soap for about five minutes. Exposed mucous membranes should be well rinsed with water. A virucidal antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, iodine tincture, aqueous iodine solution, or alcohol (ethanol) should be applied after washing. If there is no profuse bleeding, do not try to close up or stitch the wound. Seek medical attention immediately.
  • Teach children never to approach or handle unfamiliar domestic or wild animals, even if they appear friendly. Never leave a child unattended with an animal, no matter how friendly or docile the animal appears.
  • Keep pet vaccinations up-to-date. Delaware law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies.
  • Keep cats and ferrets indoors and dogs on a leash under direct supervision. Homeless pets are vulnerable to rabies. Help reduce unwanted animals by spaying and neutering pets.
  • Prevent bats and raccoons from entering homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars, and porches. Ensure trash cans have tight latching lids.

In an effort to promote 100 percent vaccination of all companion animals in Delaware, decrease human-wildlife conflicts, and promote responsible pet care-taking, DPH also recommends the following:

  • By law, all cats, dogs, and ferrets over the age of 6 months must be vaccinated against rabies. DPH also recommends vaccinating against other diseases, such as distemper and the parvo virus.
  • Pet cats should be kept indoors for their own safety and well-being. Cats can live happy lives indoors with proper enrichment and family play time. Cats that roam outside can be hit by cars, attacked by other animals, or can be exposed to parasites and diseases.
  • If you care for cats living outdoors, ensure those cats are current on rabies vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. Spaying/neutering cats will eliminate the urge to fight, reducing the likelihood of disease transmission through bite injuries.
  • Never feed wildlife intentionally or unintentionally with unsecured trash. If you care for cats living outdoors, always remove uneaten food after feeding times. This will prevent unwanted wildlife from being attracted to the food and wandering into places where people also reside. This will reduce the likelihood of wildlife attacks on humans or pets.
  • Never approach or handle unfamiliar free-roaming cats. If there are free-roaming cats living in your area, contact a local organization with the expertise and training to trap the cats to have them vaccinated and spayed or neutered to improve neighborhood safety from disease and reduce unwanted litters.

For more information about rabies, visit dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/rabies.html.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social ServicesDivision of Public Health


Prevent Dog Bites This Spring

PREVENT DOG BITES THIS SPRING
NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK, MAY 17 – 23, 2015

DOVER – Warmer weather means more time outside and, potentially, more exposure to pets or unknown dogs. The Division of Public Health Office of Animal Welfare recognizes National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 17-23, 2015, by urging dog owners to consider a few simple steps to prevent injury. According to a 10-year study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly half of all fatal dog attacks involve young children, and a staggering 84 percent of dogs involved in attacks are unneutered. In addition, dog mismanagement, such as allowing dogs to repeatedly run loose or keeping the dog isolated from usual human contact, is a strong indicator of the dog’s likelihood to attack.

To prevent dog bites:
• Spay or neuter your dog. This improves your pet’s overall and long-term health, and spayed or neutered animals are less likely to bite. This will also decrease your dog’s desire to roam in search of a mate, or fight with other animals.
• Socialize your dog. Dogs that are isolated, such as dogs that live the majority of their life chained or in a kennel, can become territorial and aggressive. Socializing your pet, especially at a young age, can help him or her to feel at ease around people and other animals.
• Teach children how to appropriately approach and handle dogs. Many dog-on-human attacks occur with small children. Don’t ever leave a child unattended with a dog, no matter how familiar the dog is with the child. By teaching children not to approach a dog they do not know, and how to properly pet or handle an animal can reduce the risk of a bite.
• Always keep your dog under your control. Obey leash laws. Not only is it illegal in Delaware to let your dog free-roam, it is dangerous for them and for others. Free-roaming dogs can get into altercations with other animals or unfamiliar people, can be lost, or hit by a car. If you have a fenced-in yard, ensure all gates are properly locked and check for holes under the fence where the dog could escape.
• Remove your pet from stressful situations. Any situation that introduces new sounds, people, and smells your dog is not familiar with can be very stressful. Make sure your pet has a quiet, safe place to retreat to if he or she becomes overwhelmed. If your pet is naturally excitable, confine him or her in a quiet room or area before guests arrive. You could provide him or her with interactive toys, such as treat-filled toys, to reduce boredom.
• Ensure your pet is healthy. Dogs that are hurt or injured can be more aggressive because they don’t feel well or are in pain. Have regular check-ups with your veterinarian. Always see a veterinarian if your pet’s activity or behavior changes.

If you think a dog may attack, the Office of Animal Welfare recommends that you stand tall and still. “Resist the urge to flail, scream, or run away, as this can increase your likelihood of being attacked,” says Enforcement Officer Mark Tobin, Office of Animal Welfare, “You should also avoid eye contact, as he may read this as a challenge.” Once you feel as though the dog has lost interest, back away slowly.

If attacked, try to put something between you and the dog. This may be a bag, jacket, or a tree. While he is biting on this object, try to find a collar which you can grab and pull up sharply until he releases. If you fall on the ground, curl into a ball with fingers interlocked behind your neck to protect your neck and ears.

While media reports tend to focus on one breed or another, the reality is that breed is not a common factor in dog attacks. In over 1,500 reported dog bites in Delaware in 2014, more than 80 different breeds and mixed breeds of dogs were represented, of all shapes and sizes. Every dog, regardless of breed, size, or familiarity with the victim, has the propensity to bite if the right set of circumstances is present.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social ServicesDivision of Public Health