During Rabies Awareness Month, the Westchester County Health Department encourages residents to keep their cats, dogs and ferrets up-to-date on their rabies vaccines and boosters, avoid stray and wild animals and bat-proof their home to protect themselves, their family and their pets from this deadly disease.
Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said: “Rabies spreads through the saliva of infected animals, so never handle young, sick or injured animals, strays or unfamiliar pets, even if they seem friendly, and teach your children not to touch them either. If you see an injured animal or one that is behaving erratically in your neighborhood, call your police department or animal control officer for help. To discourage wild animals from visiting your property, securely cover trash cans and keep pet food and water indoors.”
Bats can also carry rabies. To keep bats out of your home, caulk any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch. Use window screens and chimney caps and fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulk. Ensure all exterior doors close tightly.
Should a bat enter your home, capture and contain it and call the Health Department immediately at 914-813-5000. If the bat was in a room with a sleeping person or there is a chance of exposure, the bat should be tested for rabies. If the bat does not have rabies, you will not need preventive treatment. If the animal does have rabies, you must be evaluated to determine whether you should receive treatment to avoid rabies, which is a fatal disease.
To learn how to safely capture a bat in your home, visit https://health.westchestercountyny.gov/rabies/rabies-in-bats. To remove an animal from inside your home, a list of certified trappers is available here.
Last year, the County Health Department tested 377 animals that may have had contact with people or pets. Just 13 were confirmed to be rabid, including eight bats, a cat, a fox, a raccoon and two skunks.
Amler added: “If you, your child or your pet are bitten or scratched by someone else’s pet, get the name and address of the owner so that the biting pet’s rabies vaccine records can be verified, and call the Health Department. That way, the bite victim may be able to avoid a series of rabies shots.”
Residents who are concerned about an animal behaving erratically outdoors should contact their local police department or animal control officer. Rabies can make wild animals unusually friendly and tame, or make an animal extra-aggressive. An animal may stagger around or appear lethargic.
Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a wild or stray animal should wash the area with warm soapy water, call their doctor and report the incident to the Health Department, 24-hours a day, at (914) 813-5000. If after hours, follow the recorded instructions to report a public health emergency.
If your pet fights with another animal, wear gloves when handling your animal, call your vet and the animal control officer in your community. If your pet is exposed to a suspect rabid animal, try to keep the animal in sight until the police or a trapper arrives.
If your pet bites or scratches someone, confine your pet and call the Health Department immediately. Be sure to keep your pet’s rabies vaccines current, as required by state law, and call your vet to verify their vaccine records.
