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About three weeks ago, a young lady was running on the city streets of Magee. Three large dogs approached the runner. One bit her.
In the State of Mississippi, there is protocol when a person is bitten by a dog. Is our city following the law? Did our city know the law?
Thanks to Ward 2 Alderman Lawana Thompson, who worked for years at the MS Health Department, the Board of Aldermen were quickly informed of what was involved in a dog bite.
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, and ultimately the brain, causing death.
A dog bite is something not to be taken lightly.
if you’ve been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a healthcare or public health professional to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses
Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water and then plan to see a healthcare provider.
Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.
Remember that rabies is a medical urgency but not an emergency. Decisions should not be delayed.
A healthy domestic dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days. Any illness in the animal during the confinement period or before release should be evaluated by a veterinarian and reported immediately to the local public health department.
If signs suggestive of rabies develop, postexposure prophylaxis should be initiated. The animal should be euthanized and its head removed and shipped, under refrigeration, for examination by a qualified laboratory.
If the biting animal is stray or unwanted, it should either be confined and observed for 10 days or be euthanized immediately and submitted for rabies examination.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. Symptoms include convulsions, paralysis, and finally death. If you are bitten or exposed to an animal that carries rabies, early treatment before symptoms appear is important.
If You are Bitten, Scratched, or Have Contact with an Animal
- Obtain the owner’s name, address, and telephone number if possible.
- Immediately wash the wound thoroughly, cleaning and flushing with plenty of soap and water for several minutes.
- Get prompt medical attention. Call your family doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.
- You may call the health department (at 601-576-7725 or after hours at 601-576-7400) with questions or to get information about having the animal tested for rabies.
Mississippi State law requires the rabies vaccination to be given by a licensed veterinarian to all dog and cats over three months of age, again at one year of age, and at least every three years thereafter
Once a rabies shot has been given to a dog or cat, a metal tag must be adhered to the animals’ collar. The tag must be worn at all times.
- 41-53-11. Dogs running at large (1) It shall be lawful and it shall be their duty for any sheriff, conservation officer or peace officer of a county or municipality to kill any dog above the age of three (3) months found running at large on whose neck there is no such collar and tag.
(2) It shall be the duty of any sheriff, conservation officer or peace officer of a county or municipality to kill or otherwise destroy any and all dogs above the age of three (3) months which are running at large and have not been inoculated (vaccinated) as required.
The young lady from Magee has taken/ and is taking shots to prevent a case of rabies.
The dog was picked up by the city and then returned to its owner. To my knowledge, no one is sure if the dog had a rabies vaccine tag.
The dog catcher has been made aware of these regulations and will adhere in the future.
MageeNews.com is an online news website covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
