Transcript Slide 1

Rabies:
What scouts
need to know!
This presentation was adapted from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health,
Division of Epidemiology and Immunization.
1
What is Rabies?
• Rabies is a dangerous
disease caused by a virus.
• Around the world, rabies kills
50,000 people and millions of
animals each year.
2
What Does
Rabies Do?
• Rabies causes a disease in the
brain.
• This makes animals act in ways
that they normally would not.
• Wild animals may act nice or
mean.
3
Where is Rabies?
• The rabies virus is only found in
mammals and it is mostly found in wild
mammals.
• Mammals are animals that are warmblooded, grow hair and make milk to
feed their babies.
• The rabies virus does not infect birds,
fish, reptiles or amphibians.
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Any mammal can get rabies!
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How do you get rabies?
• Rabies is in the saliva and the brain of an
animal with rabies.
• People and animals can get rabies if they
are bitten by or get saliva in their eyes,
nose, mouth or a wound from an animal
infected with rabies.
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Bats are SPECIAL
•
•
•
•
•
Bats are good for the environment.
They have very small teeth .
You might not even feel their bite.
Never touch or go near a bat!
Tell an adult if:
– A bat gets very near you or touches you
– You see a bat in a cabin or room
– You see a bat on the ground or acting
oddly
Bat Bite
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How does rabies make
you sick?
The virus travels along the
nerves to the spinal cord and
brain.
•
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If a person or animal
gets rabies, they will
almost always die
from it!
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Even though any mammal can
get rabies, some mammals are
more likely to get rabies and
those are....
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Raccoons
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Skunks
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Foxes
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Bats
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Ground Hogs
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Mammals that are LESS likely
to give you rabies
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Can pets get rabies?
What kinds of pets could get
rabies?
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Cats - especially stray or
unvaccinated
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Dogs - especially stray or
unvaccinated
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Other animals you may
have that can get rabies
Sheep
Cows
Horses
Ferrets
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Animals that CANNOT give
you rabies
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How do you tell if an animal
has rabies?
• Some
animals may
o Act very mean
o Have problems walking
o Drool
BUT………………
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How do you tell if an animal
has rabies?
• ….it’s important to remember that
you can’t tell if an animal has rabies
just by the way it’s acting.
• Animals that appear healthy may
have rabies.
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Rabies in Virginia
• About 500 animals per year get rabies
in Virginia.
• Raccoons, foxes and skunks are the
most common animals to get rabies.
• Animals like bats, cats, cows, horses
and dogs also get rabies.
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The best way to prevent rabies
(in pets and in people) is to
make sure your pets are
vaccinated against rabies!!
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Can rabies be STOPPED?
YES!!!!!!!!!
•
•
•
Vaccinate your pets.
Stay away from stray animals.
Enjoy wildlife from a distance.
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Can rabies be STOPPED?
YES!!!!!!!!!
• If you are bitten or scratched by
an animal (and remember…bats
are special):
– Tell an adult (such as a parent or scout
leader) immediately
– Wash the wound out with soap and water
– Call your doctor or local health
department right away
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Protect yourself and your pets
• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your
dogs and cats.
• Ask your veterinarian about rabies
vaccines that can be used in other
animals.
• Tell an adult if your pet is bitten by
another animal and call your local
animal control or health department
right away.
• Keep your pets from straying far away
from your house.
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Protect yourself and your pets
• Help keep wildlife that can give you
rabies away from your home by:
– Keeping lids on trash cans
– Storing pet food either inside your house
or in closed containers outside
– Feeding your pets inside or bringing
their bowls in at night
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Protect yourself and others
•
•
•
•
Never touch a stray or wild animal
Never adopt a wild animal as a pet
Don’t try to feed wild mammals
Always ask permission to touch
someone else’s pet
• Tell an adult if:
– you see a wild or stray animal acting
strangely
– you see an animal that looks ill or injured
and might need help
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“Leave NO Trace!”
• Practice good campsite safety
– If possible, set up cooking, eating
and supply area distant from your
sleeping area
– Keep sleeping bags and tents free of
food, food odors and beverages
– Keep a clean camp
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Rabies Quiz
?
?
? ?? ? ?
?
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Which of these
animals can give you
rabies?
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DOGS?
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DOGS?
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RACOONS?
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RACOONS?
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SNAKES?
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SNAKES?
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CATS?
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CATS?
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RABBITS?
(Hint: This one’s a
little tricky.)
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RABBITS?
(Hint: This one’s a
little tricky.)
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True or False?
Rabies is caused by
a virus.
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True or False?
Rabies is caused by
a virus.
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True or False?
A bite from a snake can
give you rabies.
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True or False?
A bite from a snake can
give you rabies.
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True or False?
The rabies virus affects the
brain and spinal cord.
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True or False?
The rabies virus affects the
brain and spinal cord.
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True or False?
If you are bitten by an animal,
you should clean the wound right
away.
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True or False?
If you are bitten by an animal,
you should clean the wound right
away.
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True or False?
People can get rabies from the
saliva of an animal with rabies.
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True or False?
People can get rabies from the
saliva of an animal with rabies.
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True or False?
You can always tell, just by
looking, if an animal has rabies.
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True or False?
You can always tell, just by
looking, if an animal has rabies.
55
The best way to protect
yourself from rabies is?
A. Never touch stray or wild animals.
B. Ask your veterinarian to vaccinate
your pets.
C. Tell an adult if you see a wild or stray
animal acting strangely.
D. Keep lids on your trash cans.
E. All the Above.
56
The best way to protect
yourself from rabies is?
A. Never touch stray or wild animals.
B. Ask your veterinarian to vaccinate
your pets.
C. Tell an adult if you see a wild or stray
animal acting strangely.
D. Keep lids on your trash cans.
E. All the Above.
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Learn more about Rabies
– Kids Against Rabies page
– www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/
– Rabies control page
– www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/
DEE/Rabies/
– Look under “About DGIF” and
“Wildlife Information”
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Local contacts for help
with rabies
– Directory of local health departments
– Find local animal control offices
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The End
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