Battling the Spread of Rabies

State-led vaccine drop helping combat the disease

Another rabid animal was found in Texas recently. The animal this time was a skunk and it was tested positive for the rabies virus after coming into contact with a resident’s dog. The dog is now required to be quarantined for 45 days due to the encounter. Rabies can be deadly if not treated upon the first sign of symptoms. It attacks the central nervous system and can infect humans through a bite or a scratch from a rabid animal.

One way that states are tackling the spread of rabies is via vaccine drop programs. Texas has been participating in this program for about 26 years and it has had a lot of success. Started in 1995, the vaccine drops eliminated both the canine and fox strains of rabies. The vaccines are distributed in small packets that are covered in fishmeal so as to make them more appealing to animals as a food source. Animals can safely ingest these packets and become vaccinated for the disease.

For information on safe animal removal, visit The Critter Team.

Rabid skunk found in Brown County

A dog has been quarantined after encountering a rabid skunk in Brown County.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office received notice Friday that the skunk, recently found on the 800 block of FM 583 West, tested positive for rabies.

One dog, who has a current rabies vaccination and received a booster after encountering the skunk, must now remain in quarantine for 45 days. Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the central nervous system. Learn more

Summary: Another rabid animal was found in Texas recently. The animal this time was a skunk and it was tested positive for the rabies virus after coming into contact with a resident’s dog.

Texas rabies air drop program tackles disease

Texas health officials last month conducted its 26th annual rabies vaccine air drops in rural areas along the Texas/Mexico border in an ongoing effort to prevent the deadly rabies strain from infecting people and animals.

Started in 1995, the Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Program eliminated the canine and fox strains of rabies from Texas. This year’s air drops, conducted over a two-week period in January, was concentrated on a 25-mile swath along the border from the Rio Grande Valley to Big Bend and 19 counties on the border. See more

Summary: Texas has been participating in the vaccine drop program for about 26 years and it has had a lot of success. Started in 1995, the vaccine drops eliminated both the canine and fox strains of rabies.