JACKSON, Wyo. — On April 20, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) issued a warning regarding the ongoing threat posed by rabies as season animal activity picks up.
Rabies is a deadly but preventable virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. Rabies is not spread by touching or handling an animal or its blood, feces or urine.
Symptoms include fever, headache, excess salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis and mental confusion. Although rabies disease is almost always fatal, it can be effectively prevented if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is started promptly after exposure and before symptoms develop.
Animals most likely to spread rabies include dogs, bats, coyotes, foxes, skunks and raccoons. Jackson Hole is home to every one of these species.
WDH general tips for preventing rabies include:
- Don’t touch or feed wild or stray animals
- Treat animal bites with soap and water and contact a medical professional immediately
- People waking to find a bat in their room or a child’s room should contact a medical professional immediately
- Vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and other selected livestock for rabies and keep vaccinations up-to-date
For questions about rabies, contact Dr. Emily Curren at 307-777-5825 or
emily.curren@wyo.gov.
