DHEC: Puppy exposes 10 SC residents to rabies (SC)

The State ^ | February 7, 2014

[Gamecock]

ROCK HILL — Ten people will need treatment after one person was bitten and nine others were potentially exposed to rabies by a puppy that tested positive for the disease in Rock Hill, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Thursday afternoon.

"About 275 South Carolinians must undergo preventive treatment for rabies every year, with most exposures coming from bites or scratches by a rabid or suspected rabid animal," said Sue Ferguson of DHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health Services. "Wild animals carry the disease most often, but domestic pets can contract rabies as well."

Ferguson said state law requires pet owners to have their pets regularly vaccinated against the disease. Pets can be vaccinated as early as 12 weeks old.

Officials didn't release specific details about the York County case.

There were 123 confirmed cases of animal rabies during 2013 in South Carolina. There have been 11 confirmed cases in animals statewide this year. The puppy is the first animal to test positive in 2014 from York County.

"If you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water," Ferguson said. "Then be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC."

[Gamecock]

SC Ping worthy

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

And for those who think the last instruction in the article is trivial, we had a soldier die from rabbies contracted while in Afghanistan, because he didn’t want to report the bite to his commanding structure (for fear the non-military dog would be killed).

[woodbutcher1963]

The article does not state where the puppy came from or what breed it was.
However, I will bet it came from an animal shelter. I will also bet the animal may have been imported from the Caribbean. Over the last 10 years rabies has become a problem again after being almost entirely eradicated in the US in dogs. The reason being is that Animal Rescue companies started importing dogs from Mexico, Central American and Caribbean countries. This is especially the case in the northern part of the country, where most pet owners spay or neuter their pets. This has caused a shortage of dogs for the animal shelters to resell. Therefore, they bring in dogs from either southern US states or other countries. The rabies typically comes from the dogs that are imported. It very rarely comes from your hound dog getting bit by a rabid skunk or raccoon.

[Gamecock]

Yup.

I remember screening 1000’s of records to make sure everyone who may have come in contact with a dog was properly treated.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Pearls Before Swine]

No cute puppy pics for this one.