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JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) was notified by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) that a bat has tested positive for rabies in Tippah County. Two puppies that had potential exposure to the bat have been quarantined as per state regulation.
Rabies virus is found in bats in Mississippi and the virus is found in feral and wild animals in bordering states. Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal or through the contamination of a fresh wound with saliva from an infected animal.
Since 1961, there have been two confirmed cases of rabies in Mississippi: In 2005, a 10-year-old child died from rabies, and in 2015 a feral cat tested positive for rabies. In both cases, the rabies virus came from an infected bat. If you are bitten by a potential rabid animal, please contact your healthcare provider. Post exposure prophylaxis treatment is highly effective at preventing rabies in humans.
Mississippians can help protect themselves against rabies by taking the following precautions: • Do not handle live or dead stray animals and avoid contact with wild animals that can carry the rabies virus such as raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and coyotes. If you see an animal acting strangely, contact your local Animal Control officials.
• If you find a sick or dead bat in your home, contact MSDH (601) 576-7400 to see if the bat should be tested for rabies.
• Vaccinate pets against rabies: Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies at 3 months of age, one year later, and every three years thereafter (using a vaccine approved with 3-year immunity), as required by state law. This vaccination must be administered under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. “Rabies vaccinations are very effective in protecting people and pets from this deadly virus.
It is key these vaccinations stay up-to-date and for pet owners to follow the rabies vaccination schedule required by law,” said Jim Watson, state veterinarian. Every person in the state of Mississippi who owns, or has in his or her possession, any dog, cat, or ferret three months or over must have the animal vaccinated against rabies. All dogs, cats, and ferrets three months or older transported or moved into the state for any purpose must be accompanied by proof of current rabies vaccination per guidelines outlined in the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Rabies Compendium.
For more information on rabies, visit the MBAH website at https://www.mbah.ms.gov/diseaseprograms/rabies/.
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi
