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The Wisconsin Humane Society and City of Milwaukee Health Department
hosted a press conference at 11 am on July 1st, 2005 with Mayor Barrett
to proclaim July as Rabies Awareness Month. The intent of the
proclamation is to increase public awareness about rabies prevention.
Pet exposure to bats (many bats have rabies, so an exposure to an
untested bat may be considered an exposure to a rabid bat) has resulted
in a range of outcomes ranging from 6 week quarantine of a vaccinated
pet, to euthanasia of a family cat and it's littermate exposed to a bat
that was found to be rabies positive.
Although the percentage of bats testing positive for rabies has been
relatively steady since at least 1992, the number of bats being caught
and tested has increased and several bats with rabies have recently been
found. three rabies positive bats have been found since mid May of
this year.
Because the risk of human and pet exposure to rabies in bats can be
reduced or eliminated by some very simple measures, the MHD is
partnering with the WHS and the Mayors Office in this Rabies Awareness
Month effort in order to educate the public about these measures.
The importance of current rabies vaccination for pets (cats, dogs, and
ferrets) including those who live indoors, will be emphasized along with
bat exclusion techniques.
For more information, go to
www.milwaukee.gov/animalhealth .
To print out a rabies info brochure click
here .
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Rabies Awareness
!