Peak Season For Rabies In Michigan, 21 Cases Reported

The officials in Michigan found that a total of 21 animals have rabies. These include four skunks and 17 bats that can be found in the counties of Calhoun, Alpena, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Antrim, Newaygo, Eaton, Saginaw, Genesee, Oakland and Washtenaw. The Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Health and Human services are advising the people in Michigan to safeguard their families, pets and livestock from rabies. The bats are animals in Michigan that mostly have rabies.

Dr. Eden Wells, the chief medical executive of MDHHS said that if you discover a bat in your home, carefully confine the bat and get in touch with your local health department to determine is you could have been exposed to rabies. She further said that save any bat for testing if there is even the slightest question of exposure, particularly if the bat was found in a sleeping area, as noted by Outbreak News Today.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dan O'Brien, an acting DNR state veterinarian said that it is never a good idea to handle wild animals. He added that it's also significant to teach children never to touch wild animals, no matter how cute or tame they seem. He further said that normally, wild animals have a healthy fear of humans. If someone is bitten by a wild animal, that animal may have to be euthanized in order to be tested for rabies, according to Dr. O'Brien. They also advise people who have had contact with a potentially rabid animal or has been bitten, they should consult the veterinarian right away, even if the animal is vaccinated.

Rabies is caused by an acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. It is spread when an infected animal scratches or bites a human or another animal. Dogs are the most common animal involved with rabies. On the other hand, in America, the bat bites are the most common source of rabies in humans and only 5 percent cases are from dogs.