Rhode Island Department Of Health Warns Residents About Rabies

The Rhode Island Department of Health has warned residents of the dangers of rabies as the weather warms and people spend more time outside.

"Rabies is a serious, fatal disease that is most often transmitted to humans through a bite or scratch from an infected animal," RIDOH said in a media release.

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"People can be exposed to the rabies virus when the saliva or central nervous system tissue of an infected animal comes into contact with an open wound or a mucous membrane, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth," the release said. "A less common way to be exposed to rabies is for a pet owner to touch saliva from a high-risk animal, which has been deposited in a wound or the muzzle of the pet, resulting from an encounter between the pet and a wild animal."

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About 2,500 animal bites are reported in the state each year, according to the release.

"The animals involved include dogs, cats, bats, rodents, and raccoons," the release said. "Since March 12, nine animals have tested positive for rabies, the majority of them in Providence County."

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To prevent rabies:

• Make sure your dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies
• Avoid contact with wildlife and stray animals
• Wear gloves to tend to pets with wounds of unknown origin, or immediately after encounters have occurred between the pet and either stray animals or wildlife
• Make sure garbage is contained in a trash can with a secure lid to prevent attracting animals
• Take steps to keep bats out of your home

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, or you wake up to a bat in your house:

• Wash all wounds and the area around the wound thoroughly with soap and water
• Contact your doctor or hospital emergency department
• Report the incident to RIDOH
• Contact the animal control officer at your police department to report the incident
• Capture and isolate the animal if possible, but do not risk further injury to yourself or a pet if the animal is dangerous

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If your pet is bitten or scratched by another animal, try to find out what type of animal it was.

Do not touch the attacking animal, and wear rubber gloves and use a hose to wash your pet's wounds. Do not touch your pet with bare hands. Call your pet's veterinarian immediately, even if the wound is superficial.

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