Fox Rabies, north eastern Italy, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia area

... the border close to Slovenia & Austria has yielded a rabid fox, according to reports from the national reference laboratory in Italy.

.... a person hiking in the forested area was attacked by the fox. Although uncommon to find rabies in this part of Italy, the last reported case was 1992. Presently, Italy has been determined to be rabies free since 1995.

.... authorities believe the rabid fox entered the forested alpine area from either Slovenia or Austria.

..... control measures, i.e., oral rabies vaccine for the areas foxes, restriction of the movement of dogs, and compulsory vaccination of domestic animals in the area who graze the forested regions are being implemented.

...... submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. principal owner, & managing director, Air Animal Pet Movers .. www.airanimal.com

Cattle Rabies, Colombia, human exposure, vampire bats

... four farms have reported the incidence of cattle rabies, spread by vampire bats. The cases have been reported in the rural area of San Cayetano (San Juan Nepomuceno) and in the adjacent area of Montes de Mario region.

... the feeding habits of vampire bats who harbor the rabies virus are such that when the bats feed upon either cattle or horses, the saliva of the vampire bat is loaded with rabies virus, subsequently infecting the animals.

... ocassional human exposure takes place; as cases of vampire bats who have inflicted wounds upon humans has resulted in reported cases of rabies in humans.

... farmers and cattlemen in the affected regions have been urged to vaccinate their livestock with suitable rabies vaccine.

..... submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. ..... principal owner and managing director, Air Animal Pet Movers, Tampa, Florida ... www.airanimal.com ...

Metro Denver reports skunk rabies - Sloan's Lake area

... a rabid skunk has been identified having originated from the Sloan's Lake area -- northwest of Denver.

.... the rabies virus found in the skunks brain tissue was that of bat variant strain.

..... the skunk is a highly efficient transmitter of rabies virus; as the skunks saliva contains large amounts of the live rabies virus.

...... pet owners in the norhtwest Denver metro area are urged to be vigilant as well as having their domestic pets current on their Rabies immunizations.

submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. ... , director ... Air Animal Pet Movers

Rabies, Bat, Human Exposure - Montana, USA

... a well intentioned mom brought a dead bat to her child's school in Montana recently. The result is that over 90 students who had touched the bat in 5 separate classrooms will undergoe the anti-Rabies vaccine at the Stevensville Elementary School.

... the cost of the six doses of Rabies vaccine per child could surpass a cost of USD$150,000 .. with the school paying up to USD$70,000 through its liability insurance.

... suffice it to say, the school district has set a policy of having school visitors obtain a pass to enter the school and its classrooms.

... submitted by: Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. veterinarian, and the owner of Air Animal Pet Movers, Tampa, Florida .. the relocating pets best friend, since 1977.