Message Number: YG12226 | New FHL Archives Search
From: - Z -
Date: 2002-04-03 10:59:00 UTC
Subject: Massachusetts rabies alert

This may be relevant to other New England/Midwestern U.S. states as
well--the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a rabies
outbreak warning for this spring and summer. Rabies tends to run in three
year cycles here, with 1999 being the last outbreak, and the mild winter has
meant that animals that would not ordinarily have survived over the winter
did, so that population densities and thus opportunities to spread the
disease are much increased. Affected animals include skunks, raccoons,
woodchucks, dogs, cats, bats and otters (yes, we have some in the state,
pretty close to Boston even!). The state is declaring April "Rabies
Awareness Month" and big vaccination drives are being organized for dogs and
cats (I was rather shocked to read that only about 50% of the cats in the
state have been vaccinated).

So make sure your fuzzies (of any species) are up-to-date with their
vaccinations, even if they never go outside. Massachusetts has good
quarantine laws rather than kill and test laws (better for ferrets than for
dogs and cats, I believe), but why tempt fate, especially if people get
hysterical about this. Although as a bat lover it pains me to say this, you
also can never know when a confused, rabid bat might end up in your house
and come into contact with your house pets.

This public service announcement brought to you by

Regina
(Arlington, MA)

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