Submitted by the Sunrise Health Region
Several confirmed cases of rabies, (a serious disease of the nervous system caused by a virus) have been reported throughout the Sunrise Health Region (SHR) and as such the region is urging residents to take precautions.
Rabies in Saskatchewan most commonly occurs in wild animals such as skunks, bats, and raccoons but may also be found in domestic pets such as dogs and cats. Farm animals such as cattle and horses can also carry the disease.
Exposure to rabies is considered to have occurred when the saliva or other potentially infectious material of a rabid animal is introduced into a person through a bite or scratch.
Rabies can also be introduced through abrasions or cuts on an individual's skin or by the spraying of saliva or other infectious material on the mucous membranes of an individual. Signs and symptoms of rabies can occur days, weeks or months after exposure.
Signs include rapidly progressive central nervous system symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and seizures. Once it appears, rabies usually causes death.
Animals with rabies show a variety of signs including depression, paralysis which might occur in a number of areas including the face or neck, hiding, and wild animals losing fear of humans. Another sign of rabies in animals is aggressiveness which may include attacking objects or other animals.
If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal that you suspect may have rabies, flush the wound with plenty of soap and water, confine the animal, place it under observation if possible and seek immediate medical attention, even if you think the bite is minor. Individuals exposed to rabies will have their level of risk determined by their physician and may receive preventive treatment for rabies.
To minimize your risk of contracting rabies:
treat unknown or wild animals with caution;
do not approach or touch a wild animal, especially if it appears to be sick;
teach children not to touch or feed animals that they do not know;
have your pets vaccinated yearly for rabies.
For information on animal bites, contact the Sunrise Public Health office at 786-0600 or the HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002.
If you are bitten by an animal that is suspected of having rabies, immediately contact your nearest emergency medical centre for treatment. To report an animal that is suspected to have rabies, contact the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at (306) 780-5180.
