Rabies!

[Silver_Alhena]

This is quite scary seeing as we thought we had rabies eradicated. Unfortunatly all the progress in developing 'pet passports' so animals could travel freely between rabies-free countries will probably be set back a few years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2491495.stm

[Valnorran]

We've had numerous cases here in Louisiana over the last several years. It's been cropping up in skunks more than anything else.

[materra]

In the north it tends to be scunks, raccoons and bats.

The raccoons are dangerous as they will move into homes in attics etc, they get to be the size of a small to medium dog, they are not afraid of people, will take on your pets and win. One of my cousins got attacked by a male raccoon and they knew it had rabies... she had to have all the shots. Poor kid, it killed the family dog trying to protect her, and then went after her... got her in the leg while she was running away for the house. Man they are bad news. Don't feed them.

[Old Witch]

Down here rabies is a fact of life........kids just don't mess with racoons and 'possums and such......taught real young to run away from either one of those out in the daylight......... except our 30 pounder who would raid garbage cans in broad daylight and carry away his lunch in brown bags...........:D

[Silver_Alhena]

OW, this cas caused quite a stir seeing as it is the first case rabies has been aquired within the UK for 100 years ( a couple of people have brought rabies INTO the country by accident - but there have always been ludicrously strict quarantine laws)

At this point today it still hasn't been confirmed, mind you, this is Ninewells Hospital- we could be waiting days.. :)

[Old Witch]

I know the UK has been really successful for years in keeping rabies out.........I feel really sorry for the man........We had a little Brown bat in our backyard that was rabid........had to get Animal Control to get it tested.........Good thing the dogs all have their shots.......We worry a lot about it in the South......I didn't mean to make it seem trivial.........Our county (Aiken) sees maybe 5 cases of rabies a year, mostly racoons, O'possums, and cats.........

[shnen]

when I was little our neighbour was bit by a raccoon, had to go get 20 needles or somethinglike that!

we lived out in the country, so it was a thing to watch for... but pretty much a part of life...

[Demeter]

But the article was pretty clear that it wasn't rabies itself, but a specifically bat-related thing? Or did I read that wrong?

England may have been able to eradicate rabies due to its geographical situation, but I don't think we'll ever be able to eradicate it in the U.S. There are too many wild animals that can carry it, and too many feral animals and people who don't inoculate their pets. :(

[Ryhla]

Around 2 weeks ago in Washington state, a cat was caught with Rabies. That was the 1st known case in the state in about 50 years among a domesticated type of animals. I'm not sure though if the cat was wild or a pet of someones though.

[Dellit Tandannon]

we used to have a huge problem with raccoons with rabies here in jersey.

[Silver_Alhena]

Originally posted by Demeter
But the article was pretty clear that it wasn't rabies itself, but a specifically bat-related thing? Or did I read that wrong?



It is a type of rabies only found in bats, and it is believed it is one of the new european strains publicised only about a month ago.

No confirmation on the intial tests on the guy, however the full results will be known in 2 weeks.