Rabid Puppy Identified in Rutherford County
Thursday, June 25, 2009 | 11:56am
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed a case of rabies in a puppy in Rutherford County. TDOH is conducting an investigation to identify any persons who may have been exposed to rabies through contact with the puppy.
The dog and its owners attended baseball games at the Rockvale Community Center in Rutherford County on June 4 and June 6, 2009. Any persons who were bitten by or came into contact with fresh saliva from this young dog while attending these ball games may have been exposed to rabies and are asked to contact the Department of Health Mid-Cumberland Regional Office at 615-650-7000 for an assessment.
Officials with the community center indicate that one team at the ball park on June 4 was from Bedford County. Anyone from Bedford County who was bitten by or came into contact with fresh saliva from the puppy should contact the Bedford County Health Department at 931-684-3426.
“It’s important to note that most people who saw this dog or were around the animal at the ball park are not at risk for rabies,” said Assistant State Public Health Veterinarian Rand Carpenter. “Only people who were bitten by the puppy or had direct contact with its saliva are asked to call the health department. We will work to determine these individuals’ risk for exposure and the appropriate treatment if needed.”
The puppy that developed rabies was an 8-week old boxer-bulldog mixed breed, solid white in color. “Max” was described as fairly small, only 6-8 inches tall. He was on a black leash attached to a black collar and was with his owners near the bleachers on the home side of the ball field on both June 4 and 6. The dog was first noticed to be ill on June 14, and exposures to people before this time are unlikely to transmit rabies.
Rabies is a viral infection that is nearly always fatal. Humans can be exposed to rabies through the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible to be exposed to the virus when fresh saliva from a rabid animal is introduced into fresh open cuts in the skin or onto mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth or nose. Persons are not exposed simply by attending an event where a rabid animal was present, petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces of a rabid animal; these types of encounters do not carry a risk for transmission. If a person is exposed to rabies, a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective in preventing the disease.
For more information about rabies prevention, visit the Department of Health Web site at http://health.state.tn.us and look under “Featured Items” on the home page.