news release
ANDREW J. SPANO County Executive Westchester County Department of Health			www.westchestergov.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             FOR MORE INFORMATION

March 10, 2000                                                                                 Contact Mary Landrigan

Rabies Warning: Do Not Handle Baby Animals                                  (914) 637-4715

Westchester County Department of Health today announced that five raccoons have recently tested positive for rabies and reminds residents not to handle wild animals.

"A special problem arises at this time of year because wildlife are having their young and some residents are bound to come across baby animals," stated Dr. Ada Huang, Deputy Commissioner of Disease Control for the Westchester County Department of Health. "For their own safety, and to avoid having to sacrifice animals for rabies testing, residents should leave all wildlife and stray animals alone. Parents should be certain to educate their children to avoid handling wild animals and strays," Dr. Huang added.

"Rabies is a very real threat in every neighborhood, village and urban area," continued Dr. Huang. "Unfortunately, many residents forget the imminent threat of rabies when they encounter baby animals. Even baby animals can have rabies. When a person comes in physical contact with a wild or stray animal, even a baby animal, that person is potentially at risk of contracting rabies, an invariably fatal disease," she said.

The Health Department advises residents not to try to rescue or save baby animals, including bats, even if it appears that they have been abandoned. People often see baby animals and assume that they have been orphaned or abandoned when in reality that is not the case. Females must spend time away from their babies to meet the increased energy needs of feeding their young. Chances are their mother is near by, and if not, there are professionals who are much better equipped to deal with these kinds of situations in the proper manner so that the sacrifice of the animal does not become necessary.

For more information on who to call for injured or abandoned animals, call your local police department, animal shelter, or the Westchester County Department of Health.

Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread through the bite or saliva of infected animals. People can become infected with rabies through physical contact with wildlife or unimmunized household pets that harbor the disease.

Westchester County law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to $1000 and either the quarantine of the pet for 6 months in a veterinary facility or putting the pet to sleep.

If you are bitten by an animal, or come in contact with its saliva, you may require immediate rabies post-exposure treatment. This consists of five shots given in the arm or the buttocks, over the period of a month. It is 100% effective in preventing rabies if given early enough after exposure and before symptoms develop. Once symptoms develop, in humans or animals, death is inevitable.

All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day.

For more information, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit our website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

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