Rabies cases in eastern Colorado a reminder

MONTROSE  — Rabies circulating in eastern Colorado is a reminder to everyone in the state that spillover infections can affect their pets and other animals.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed a rabid cat and raccoon last week in Cheyenne County, according to a news release.

"My last conversation with the state epidemiologist ... skunk and raccoon rabies have been showing signs of coming in from both north and south of our state," said Mike Duncan, city of Montrose animal services supervisor.

This is the first rabid raccoon reported in Colorado since 1963 and the first rabid cat since 1985, according to the CDPHE.

Though cases are scarce, Duncan said it's important that domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, have up to date vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations are required for such animals within Montrose County.

The cases in Cheyenne County are assumed to be infected after contact with a rabid skunk, according to state officials. There have been at least seven rabid skunks involved in attacks on domesticated dogs and cats in the state, said Mark Salley, communications director for CDPHE.

Duncan said his department picks up an average of four skunks and four raccoons a week.

Since the first of the year, 38 skunks have been submitted to the CDPHE for laboratory testing. Of those, 11 tested positive for rabies.

Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. The virus is shed in the saliva and is fatal. It is transmitted through a bite or contact with saliva, according to the CDPHE.

"Never approach a sick animal," said Randy Hampton, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife northwest region. "By the time the animal is sick enough that most people notice, they are so far a long that it doesn't matter. ... Typically when people approach it is when we see a bite situation. When (a wild animal) loses fear of humans is when you need to worry about that animal having a disease."

Duncan said raccoons typically follow waterways and are attracted by food sources. He recommend that people don't feed their animals outside.

The best way to get rid of a nuisance skunk or raccoon is to remove what is attracting the animal, whether it be cat food or a bird feeder, Hampton said. A rag soaked in ammonia placed in the animals hole can also work. However, make sure the rag is not reachable by pets.

Because of disease transfer issues, skunks can not be relocated.

"If people could prevent those types of attractions, it would be a big help," Duncan said. In some cases he has to euthanize the skunk.

Another common reservoir of rabies are bats. They have been the primary reservoir in Colorado for the past 35 years, said John Pape, an epidemiologist with the CDPHE.

"We do have a large bat population," Duncan said. However, the few bats he has tested have been negative for rabies. Pape said about 30 to 50 bats test positive for rabies annually in the state.

Bat populations are valuable, as they eat bugs.

"The ones to worry about are the ones on the ground (looking sick), the kids bring it in or the cat catches it," Pape said.

Suspected rabid animals should be reported immediately to local public health or animal control authorities.

— The CDPHE recommends additional precautions to prevent exposure. Those precautions include: teach kids to stay away from wild or dead animals, don't allow pets to roam freely, contact a vet if your domestic animal has a bite or scratch from a wild animal and don't feed wild animals.

— Signs of rabies in animals include abnormal behavior such as nocturnal animals being active in the day, animals approaching humans or other animals, difficulty walking or moving, and unusual animal sounds such as excessive bellowing in cows or hissing/chirping in bats. Some will be very aggressive (furious rabies), while others may appear almost catatonic (dumb rabies), according to CDPHE.