BREWSTER, NY— Most positive rabies results in Putnam County, like the rest of New York State, usually come from raccoons, with bats and skunks close behind. Last year the Putnam County Department of Health identified 66 cases with possible human exposure that required testing. When the results came back from NYS’s Wadsworth Center rabies laboratory in Albany, four positive samples were found to be spread evenly: one each from a raccoon, a bat, a skunk, and a cat.

“Preventing the deadly disease of rabies is one of the vital roles that health departments play in New York State,” says public health director Rian Rodriguez, MPH. “We prioritize prevention education, which includes alerting residents about the dangers of rabies and encouraging them to report all possible exposures as soon as possible. We’re also involved in screening and treatment. Our environmental health sanitarians assess exposures and recommend treatment, while our nurses work with area health care providers to ensure an accurate and timely post-exposure treatment plan is initiated. Fortunately, rabies is not a common disease, but once symptoms occur it is almost always fatal.”

Marianne Burdick, HHP, MPH, associate public health sanitarian, supervises the rabies control program at the Putnam County Department of Health. She explains that a possible exposure includes a bite, or wound exposed to saliva, from physical contact with a wild animal and reminds residents that the health department has a hotline with voicemail to report possible exposures as soon as possible, including after hours or on weekends. The after-hours number is 845-808-1390, extension 3. Post-exposure care known as “RPEP,” for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, ideally should begin within 72 hours of any exposure.

“When spring arrives, the risk of exposure to rabies rises, in both people and pets, because more time is spent outdoors. Bats return to our area and baby animals are typically born in the spring, but we advise people to stay away from all wild animals,” Ms. Burdick said. “Even when cute newborn animals are found alone, most are not abandoned and don’t need rescue. They’re waiting for their parents to return with food, so it is best to avoid even the young ones, since it only takes a bite, or a wound exposed to saliva, for a potential exposure to occur.”

Worldwide 60,000 people die of rabies each year, and most are infected through dog bites. Fortunately, rabies in dogs is rare in the U.S. “We have higher vaccination rates for our pets here in this country,” explained Ms. Burdick. “Our next rabies vaccination clinic in Putnam for residents’ dogs, cats and ferrets (pets) is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, at Hubbard Lodge on Route 9 in Cold Spring.” Three vaccination clinics are hosted by the health department throughout the year. In addition to the July event, others are held in November and March.        

Bats are a major concern related to rabies. According to the New York State Department of Health, it is not uncommon for bats to appear in occupied dwellings, such as homes, apartments or camps. They may enter unnoticed, particularly at night, attracted by light and seeking shelter and warmth. If a bat is discovered inside, especially in a room where someone has been sleeping, it is crucial to capture the bat so that it can be tested for rabies. Bats found in a home should not be released without consulting the health department. If the bat tests negative for rabies, a person can avoid unnecessary rabies treatment, which usually includes a series of intramuscular shots, given over 14 days, with recommendation of an additional dose on day 28 for patients who are immuno-compromised. The New York State Capture-The-Bat video can be viewed on the Putnam County Department of Health’s Rabies Webpage.

Additional resources:

Rabies Fact Sheet—NYS Department of Health https://www.health.ny.gov/es/diseases/communicable/rabies/fact_sheet.htm (Spanish) https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/rabies/fact_sheet.htm (English)

Animal Rabies Data and Statistics—NYS Department of Health https://health.data.ny.gov/Health/Rabies-Laboratory-Submissions-Beginning-May-2007/q25r-zbis/related_content