[PlatinumYorkies]

At least in the state of MD. there have been more attacks, and raccoons found in MD. since this...actually they found a dead raccoon 2 blocks away from me a week ago who had rabies....I live near woods so this frightens me...

Second Rabies Case Noted By Health Dept.

Aug. 11, 2005
The year's second confirmed rabies case in the county has been reported by the Environmental Health Services of the Garrett County Health Department. Although there was no human exposure in the incident, the dog involved did not have a current rabies vaccination and will now have to be strictly quarantined and observed for the next six months.

The incident occurred on July 29 when the dog fought and killed a raccoon in the Finzel area. The raccoon was sent to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene rabies laboratory in Baltimore, where positive confirmation for rabies was made four days later.

Because the dog’s last rabies vaccination had expired by a number of years, the owner was given the option of euthanizing the dog or agreeing to undergo a strict six month confinement for the dog. The owner opted for the isolation and constructed the required double-walled, roofed enclosure where the dog will be confined. The dog received a rabies booster vaccination for an addition level of protection before going into confinement.

Health Department personnel will monitor the dog over the next six months to assure compliance of the isolation facility and observe any physical or behavioral changes which may occur in the dog.

"This situation is a harsh reminder of the importance of keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccination," said Environmental Health Services spokesperson Walter Haydel. "Euthanizing a family pet or having to build an isolation compound for the animal is a hardship which can easily be avoided."

The Health Department has tentatively sponsored a series of low-cost rabies clinics for the third week of September. Pet owners are urged to verify that their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Dogs, cats and ferrets 3 months and older may be vaccinated against the rabies virus. Maryland law requires that they be vaccinated by 4 months of age. If a pet’s vaccination has expired, the owner is urged to immediately contact a local veterinarian to schedule a vaccination appointment.
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Dec 15, 2005 6:43 pm US/Eastern

Rabies Cases On The Rise In Baltimore

Suzanne Collins
Reporting


(WJZ/AP) Baltimore, MD The number of raccoons and bats with rabies has increased substantially this year, according to the Baltimore City Health Department. State health officials say that lab tests have confirmed rabies in 19 animals in Baltimore City this year, compared to five last year.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein tells Eyewitness News, "Rabies is a horrible, horrible disease, known to be fatal in every person except one."

"There are some animals that really look rabid, but there are other animals with rabies that may not look rabid..and the best approach is not to approach wild animals," Dr. Sharfstein says.

This year, 68 patients have received rabies shots in Baltimore, up from 43 last year. WJZ's Suzanne Collins reports that two city residents are still undergoing weeks of medical treatment after they were attacked by a rabid raccoon.

Collins spoke to James Griffin, a friend of 61-year-old victim Feather Davis. Griffin says the attack occured two weeks ago near his home in West Baltimore, where a racoon was acting strangely during daylight hours.

"The racoon took off ...jumped..went airborne..and caught [Davis] right above the knee, " says Griffin.

Griffin says he reacted quickly to help Davis, using a rock to get the racoon off her pants leg.

Davis was not bitten, but, however, because she came in such close contact with the animal, she received her first vaccine shot Dec. 7 at the city's health department. But when Davis needed a second shot, a scarce and costly antibody serum called human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), she found that the Health Department ran out of the vaccine. HRIG must be given within seven days of the first vaccine shot.

Dr. Sharfstein says such delays are "a very common thing because there's a pretty scarce supply" of HRIG. "I've been in (hospital) emergency rooms that don't have any when a patient is there," he said.

Dr. Sharfstein advises city residents to get rabies shots for their pets. Residents can take their dogs and cats to local, low-cost clinics.

The Health Department also advises parents to tell children not to touch or approach wild animals.

For more information about the city's pet clinics, call 3-1-1.