Hmmm - the CDC says nothing about skunks not dying from
rabies. Since it is a virus that attacks the CNS of mammals, how are skunks
immune? We should study that.
Kristen
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
firedancefarms Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:47
PM To: ridecamp Cc:
ozarkcountryenduranceriders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] FYI
rabies
Horse at US state fair dies of rabies -
------------------------------------- A horse that attended the Missouri
State Fair in Sedalia died of rabies, state health officials say. The
Missouri Department of Health is notifying people who attended the state
fair that the horse, which was stabled and shown at the fair, had the
disease.
"While there is little likelihood any visitor to the fair was
exposed to rabies from this horse, public health officials are making this
notification as a precaution," a spokesperson said.
The horse
originated from Missouri and was a 2-year-old bay gelding with a black
mane, tail, and legs. It stood about 15 hands. During the fair, the horse
was shown in the Saddlebred Show and was stabled in Barn C. "Illness was
first noted in the horse on 17 Aug 2008," the spokesperson said. "Over the
next day and a half, the horse developed severe neurologic signs and died
the morning of 19 Aug 2008. The horse subsequently tested positive for
rabies."
People directly involved in the care of the horse are being
contacted and are being assessed for possible rabies exposure and the need
for rabies post-exposure treatment.
State Public Health
Veterinarian Howard Pue said: "Attending an event where a rabid animal was
present or petting a rabid animal does not constitute a risk for
transmission."
Pue said rabies is transmitted mainly through bite
wounds from an infected animal. In some cases, it may be transmitted
through fresh open cuts in the skin or on to mucous membranes such as the
eyes, mouth, or nose from the saliva of a rabid animal.
The
department says anyone who attended the fair between 7 Aug and 9 Aug 2008
should contact their doctor if they possibly had contact with this horse
and any of the following occurred during their visit to the
fair: * They were bitten by a horse; * Had contamination of
a fresh open wound with saliva from a horse; or * Had saliva from a
horse come in contact with eyes, nose, mouth or other mucous
membranes.
