Wednesday, November 19, 2008
By Erin Quinn
Tribune-Herald staff writer
A stray kitten has been confirmed to have rabies, the fourth case of the virus this year in McLennan County, health officials say.
As a result, two people have had to begin post-exposure preventive treatment, according to a news release from the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.
Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of State Health Services, said Tuesday that because of department policy the agency would not release specifics behind the circumstances of the bites.
According to the health district, the rabies case is the fourth confirmed in the county this year. Two cases have been confirmed in skunks and one in a bat.
In 2007, six skunks and one opossum were diagnosed with the virus, district officials said. In 2006, five skunks were diagnosed.
In the TDSHS’s 30-county Central Texas region, 330 rabies cases have been confirmed so far this year. Most of those cases, 217, were found in bats. Three cats were diagnosed with rabies.
If you are bitten by an animal, the health department advises to wash the wound with soap and water for at least five minutes, contact a doctor to evaluate the wound and report the bite to law enforcement or animal control.
equinn@wacotrib.com
757-5748
Rabies: How to avoid it
The Waco-McLennan County Health District advises people to:
* Vaccinate family pets regularly.
* Avoid contact with stray animals and unfamiliar or wild animals. Do not bring them into your home or try to nurse the animals back to health.
* Make sure trash cans and pet-food containers are secured.
Comments
By John
Nov 20, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Wait until you have a rattlesnake coiled up by your door shaking its rattle and them try to convince you it won't hurt you because it's a rat snake. That happened to my mom while my dad and I were both out of town. Luckily after hours of trying to get them to come out and breing transferred between animial control and Waco PD, she got transferred to the Sherriff's Office who had a deputy there in about 5 to 10 minutes and he took care of the problem.
By k
Nov 19, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
yes, you do pay for it, and no, you shouldn't actually expect it. government organizations, esp. local ones, only do things that make them money, and picking up stray dogs doesn't make them any money.
By Jackie
Nov 19, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
I totally agree! I have had the same experience with Waco's AC.
By Dusty
Nov 19, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Last week I called 2 days in a row for the Animal Control to come out & pick up 2 stray dogs. They asked me for more information the 2nd time, as in my name, address, color of the dogs, were they vicious or friendly, etc. I was told both times that someone would be right out. It is now days later & one of the dogs is still around. I have yet to see an animal control vehicle. Isn't this one of the services we pay for by way of taxes?
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F, except on Tuesday when it's open until 9 p.m.
Post a comment
*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.