Walnut Cove, North Carolina Call us: (336) 593-5422
Latitude 36 Mobile Veterinary Services
E-mail: lat36vet@aol.com
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URGENT NEWS - January 8th, 2012
This past week Dr. Gemeinhardt diagnosed a case of rabies in a pony in southern Patrick County, VA, just over the NC state line. The VA state laboratory confirmed that the pony was positive for rabies. He and his pasturemates were unvaccinated.
Rabies is endemic in this part of the country, meaning that it is an ever-present threat, as it circulates continually in the wildlife population. All warm-blooded animals (including humans) are susceptible to rabies, which is caused by the rabies virus. The most common way rabies is transmitted to other animals is in the saliva of a rabid animal, usually through a bite.
Rabies is a highly fatal disease in all susceptible animals. Fortunately, we have effective rabies vaccines for dogs, cats, horses, other livestock, and humans. If your animals are not yet vaccinated for rabies or they are overdue for boosters, please call Dr. Gemeinhardt or your local vet to schedule an appointment to have your animals vaccinated or boostered.
Click here to read more about this case and about rabies in horses and other livestock.
Click here to read the news release by the Virginia Department of Health.
Click here for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) info pages about rabies in humans and animals.
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