Mass vaccinations, One Health bolsters fight against rabiesSeptember 28, 2020Protecting animals and humans from a deadly, preventable disease is the focus of new global campaign.
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Vaccine bait aims to control rabies in U.S. wildlifeSeptember 3, 2020Protecting America’s heartland from a deadly, preventable disease is the goal of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program currently underway in the country’s northeast region.
Global groups fight rabies using One Health approachNovember 25, 2019Two animal health organizations are collaborating on a One Health-inspired joint action plan to eliminate dog bite-transmitted rabies.
Boehringer donates 60,000 rabies vaccines to Puerto RicoSeptember 27, 2019Residents of Puerto Rico will soon be better protected from rabies transmission, thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim.
Merck marks three million rabies vaccine donationsSeptember 19, 2019As World Rabies Day approaches on Sept. 28, Merck Animal Health is doing its part to combat the transmission of rabies.
Active bats raise red alertSeptember 17, 2019With an active bat season approaching, a clinical professor from Kansas State University (K-State) is reminding veterinarians and owners to remain vigilant in protecting pets against rabies.
S.C. veterinarians, DHEC to provide low-cost rabies vaccinationsMarch 27, 2019South Carolina veterinary practices are joining the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to offer low-cost rabies vaccinations to their pet patients. Although rabies vaccines can be obtained all year, the initiative provides pet owners with an affordable and convenient service, while also helping to increase rabies-prevention awareness. "Rabies vaccination fees may vary by clinic site, but no veterinarian participating in these clinics will charge more than $10 per pet," says David Vaughan, director of DHEC's division of onsite wastewater, rabies prevention, and enforcement. South Carolina state law requires all pet cats, dogs, and ferrets are vaccinated against rabies. While not mandatory, DHEC also recommends owners vaccinate horses, livestock in frequent contact with people, valuable livestock, and animals used for raw milk or raw milk product production. "Rabies is a threat to pets, livestock, wild animals, and humans," Vaughan says. "Pet owners must stay vigilant and keep their pets current on their vaccinations." In 2018, South Carolina saw 100 positive rabies cases with the following breakdown: • 42 raccoons; • 16 skunks; • 15 cats; • 13 bats; • nine foxes; • two cows; • one dog; • one goat; and …
Remind horse owners to safeguard against rabiesJune 7, 2018According to veterinary research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Horse Council, horses are nearly four times more likely to contract rabies than dogs. Across the U.S., the majority of horses are not vaccinated for rabies and often run a higher risk of exposure than dogs, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Everybody is at risk for developing rabies," said Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Interim Dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "[Horses are] at higher risk for being exposed probably at pasture, but being in a stall does not preclude exposure. The consequences of interacting with a horse that has rabies are significant." Horses can be exposed to rabies most commonly through bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Two examples of public equine rabies cases include the 2008 Missouri State Fair; and the 2006 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which required the notification of more than 150,000 people for potential rabies exposure. Rabies is the deadliest among the five core equine diseases, which also include Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and West Nile. Horses are continually exposed …
Animal welfare agency tackles rabies in MyanmarApril 20, 2018 Within four weeks of launching its "Don't Wait, Vaccinate" campaign in Myanmar, global animal welfare agency Four Paws International has administered rabies vaccinations to more than 30,000 dogs and cats in 220 villages surrounding Naypyidaw, the country's capital city. The area, which is three times the size of Singapore, is now considered rabies free. The mission is reflective of the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal to eradicate rabies in humans by 2030. According to WHO and the Myanmar Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, nearly 62,000 people in Myanmar were bitten by dogs in 2017, with 40 percent of those bitten under the age of 15. Approximately 1,000 of those bites resulted in deaths due to rabies infections. In response to the frequency of the disease, residents and authorities have started mass-killing many of the estimated four million stray and community-owned dogs across the country, especially throughout summer months. "The misconception that dogs are particularly aggressive when it is hot is unfortunately widespread in Myanmar," said Marina Ivanova, DVM, with Four Paws. "Therefore, our task is not only to vaccinate the animals, but also to educate people about …
Update: Dog vaccinated against rabies did not contract diseaseAugust 2, 2017Health departments in Washington, D.C., and Virginia are investigating a case of rabies contracted by a dog vaccinated against the disease.
