RABIES CASES RISING ACROSS THE USA WITH RAMPANT CLIMATE CHANGE BEING ONE OF THE FACTORS
There have been 245 confirmed cases of rabies across Virginia in early September. With most cases being testing of potential exposures, involving raccoons and bats says the WRIC ABC NEWS.
Make sure to avoid wild animals (dead or alive) that seem to be acting abnormally, look sicky, or are aggressive. During the early stages of rabies there are no visible symptoms, so it is still advised to avoid stray/wild animals unless it is within your occupation to do so.
Keep an eye on pets as much as possible and get them vaccinated if you haven't already. Your pet/s must be at least 4 months old to be vaccinated. If you believe a family member, pet, or yourself have been infected, make sure to contact your doctor/veterinarian respectively as soon as possible.
Rabies is a serious public health threat that has been becoming more apparent with cases rising due to the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events disrupting ecosystems forcing out wildlife, in turn causing an increase of human-wildlife contact. This also means more contact with domesticated animals as well. For Sources/More Info: Iere.org and Wildlife SOS.org
For the wellbeing of a community's health against rabies, it is crucial to vaccinate domestic animals such as cats, dogs, and livestock etc. This will help prevent any unnecessary loss of animal and human life.
For more info on rabies cases and its symptoms check out Virginia Department of Health and Verywell Health
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