Grey Fox (By California Department of Water Resources – California Department of Water Resources, Public Domain)

The Chautauqua County Health Department has confirmed that a grey fox that has bitten people in Bemus Point is rabid.

The Department said the fox bit multiple people near Route 430 on Friday, June 9. The Health Department is following-up with the people involved to ensure that they receive proper medical attention. A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer responded to the situation and killed the grey fox on June 9, 2023. The grey fox was sent for testing and was determined to be positive for rabies.

Chautauqua County Director of Environmental Health Jessica Wuerstle said the incident should serve as a reminder to residents that animal rabies is a serious public health concern, “According to the Centers for Disease Control more than 90% of rabies cases occur in wildlife. Pets and livestock can be protected from rabies by keeping rabies vaccines up-to-date.”

If you believe you had physical contact with the grey fox that was killed in the Bemus Point area and have not seen a medical provider please call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 716-753-4783.

Rabies is nearly always a fatal disease when exposure is missed and untreated.

Visit chqgov.com/environmental-health/rabies-prevention for general rabies information.

The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health and the town of Gerry are co-sponsoring the clinic that will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Town of Gerry Highway Department at 4675 Route 60 in Gerry.

This clinic will be a drive-in clinic and animals must be pre-registered to receive vaccinations. Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older.

The link to pre-register online for the Town of Gerry clinic is available here: https://on.ny.gov/3DO4Jzz

New York State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat, and domesticated ferret over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies. County residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by having their pets vaccinated.

If you register but decide not to attend the event, please cancel your appointment so the spot is available for another pet. You can cancel appointments via the confirmation email you receive when you register. Walk-ins may be accepted, but are not guaranteed.

For more information about the clinic and rabies in general, visit https://chqgov.com/environmental-health/rabies-prevention or contact the Division of Public Health at (716) 753-4481.

Bait drops

New York State will be doing aerial and hand distribution of baits until August 18 through the Village of Brocton, and the Towns of Portland, Arkwright, and Villenova.

The Environmental Health Unit of the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services says humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the bait. However, people who encounter baits directly are asked to leave them undisturbed. Should contact with a bait occur, immediately rinse the contact area with warm water and soap. Please do not attempt to remove a bait from your dog’s mouth. The bait will not harm the dog.

The Health Department encourages residents to be mindful of wildlife and leave animals alone when they are encountered in the wild.

They added one in ten animals infected by the rabies virus will become aggressive and attack with no provocation. Other rabid animals may appear tame or docile, and well-meaning animal lovers may be tempted to catch and help the animals. People may hear orphaned animals crying for their mother and think they need to care for the animals. However, when people take wild or feral animals home they create a real danger for their family, particularly children. It is illegal and dangerous to relocate or harbor wild animals. An entire family may need to be treated for rabies exposure after an animal has been brought home. Health officials say if you have to handle a wild animal, such as a bat, to remove it from your home to wear thick, puncture resistant gloves and protective layers to prevent bites and scratches.

Rabies is a serious public health concern because if left untreated it is invariably fatal. Costs associated with detection, prevention and control of rabies conservatively exceed $500 million annually.

For more information, contact the Chautauqua County Environmental Health Unit at (716) 753-4481.

source: wikimedia commons

The Chautauqua County Health Department is raising awareness of the potential exposure to rabies from bats.

Bats are one of the most frequently reported rabid animals that people and pets come in contact with. The Chautauqua County Environmental Health Unit recommends contacting them if an exposure occurs because medical treatment may be necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control says if you know you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat — or if infectious material , such as saliva or brain material, from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound — wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing.

If you find a bat in your house, talk to a healthcare or public health professional. The bat should be captured for possible rabies testing. Call animal control, wildlife conservation, or a public health agency for assistance. If professional assistance is not available, safely capture the bat in case testing is needed. Testing the bat may help you and your doctor decide if you need rabies vaccination.

Seeing bats outside is common and normal, especially at dusk and through the night. Avoid intentional contact with bats outside. Use screens, tents, or mosquito netting when sleeping outside.

If you are outside and have direct contact with a bat, you should talk to a healthcare or public health professional to decide if you need to be vaccinated to prevent rabies. If you’re not sure if contact occurred but find a bat on or near you (for example, if you wake up with a bat near or on you), then you may need vaccination.

To capture a bat, find a container like a box or a can large enough for the bat to fit in, and a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the container opening. Punch small air holes in the cardboard.

Put on leather work gloves. When the bat lands, approach it slowly and place the container over it. Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside.

Tape the cardboard to the container to secure the bat inside. Contact the Chautauqua County Department of Health to have the bat tested for rabies.

If the bat is killed, it must be stored on ice to preserve the specimen for testing.

For more information, contact the Chautauqua County Health Department at 716-753-4481. For more information on bats and rabies, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/animals/bats/index.html#capture

According to a media release sent out Tuesday afternoon, health officials say a youth turkey hunter was attacked on Sunday, April 21 while hunting turkey near Open Meadows Road in the Town of North Harmony.  The youth was wearing a heavy jacket and was accompanied by his father. The raccoon latched onto his jacket biting through the jacket and inflicting a bite.

“This would have been a much different story if he was wearing a light weight shirt or hunting alone,” Health official note in the media release. “The youth was able to fling the raccoon clear allowing his father time to shoot the raccoon.”

“This incident should serve as a reminder to residents, particularly outdoor enthusiasts (hikers, hunters, etc.), that animal rabies is a serious public health concern and continues to be present in Chautauqua County,” said Mark Stow, County Director of Environmental Health Services.  “Raccoons are, by far, the animal most likely to be rabid in the state.”

Health officials say roughly one in ten animals infected by the rabies virus will become aggressive and attack with no provocation. Other rabid animals may appear tame or docile, and well-meaning animal lovers may be tempted to catch and help the animals.

As we approach the season when wild animals are having babies, people may hear orphaned animals crying for their mother and think they need to care for the animals. However, when people take wild or feral animals home they create a real danger for their family, particularly children.  It is illegal to relocate/harbor wild animals and it’s also very dangerous, especially when children are allowed to handle/play with the animals. Sometimes entire families need to be treated for rabies exposure after an animal has been brought home.

Rabies is nearly always a fatal disease when exposure is missed and untreated. Preventing rabies in pets is your first line of defense.

Pet owners should be aware that New York State law requires all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against rabies at 4 months of age.  The vaccination requirement aims to protect, not only pets and animals from the fatal rabies virus but also, pet owners who may be exposed through their pets.

Free rabies vaccination clinics are held at various locations throughout the county during the year. The next free rabies clinic is:

Saturday, May 4, 2019
1 – 3 P.M.
Town of Poland Highway Barn
533 Grubb Hill Rd., Kennedy, N.Y.

The initial rabies vaccination is valid for one year and subsequent booster vaccinations are valid for three years. If an unvaccinated pet or one that is overdue on its vaccination comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the pet must either be euthanized or strictly quarantined for six months.  Vaccinated animals that come in contact with wild animals can simply be given booster vaccinations, as long as they are given within five days of exposure.

Routine inquiries and requests for information can be obtained by calling 716-753-4481 during business hours.  After normal business hours, residents with urgent inquiries can call the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office at 716-753-4232. Visit cdc.gov and health.ny.gov for general information.

The Environmental Health Unit of the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Humans Services sent out a media release on Monday, saying two Stockton residents were attacked by a stray/feral pet cat on last week on Thursday, October 5.

Chautauqua County Director of Health & Human Services said Christine Schuyler says the incident should serve as a warning to Chautauqua County residents that animal rabies is a serious public health concern that we must not get complacent about.

She said that pets face a very real risk of exposure which can then translate to human exposure.  Not only is this a terrible way for a pet to die but children are often at greatest risk from rabies.

Pet owners should be aware that New York State law requires all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against rabies at 4 months of age.

The next free rabies clinic is set for Saturday October 14, 2017 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Town of Gerry Highway Garage, Rt 60 in Gerry.

For more information on rabies or the upcoming vaccination clinics, call 753-4481 during business hours.

Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets three (3) months of age and older. Please know that all pets must be on a leash or in a cage; and individuals should bring rabies vaccination records for each animal that will be receiving a shot. It is helpful for the veterinarian to know the previous immunization status of each animal to ensure proper and effective vaccination.

New York State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat and domesticated ferret over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies. County residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by having pets vaccinated.

Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes are the common disease carriers. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through saliva. It can enter the body from a bite, scratch, scrape or open cut. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing brain swelling and ultimately death within days of the onset of symptoms.

For more information on the March 27clinic and rabies in general, please see the Health Department’s website at: http://ny-chautauquacounty.civicplus.com/243/Environmental-Health or contact the Health Department at 753-4481.

The case involved an individual awaking to a bat flying around the room. Because rabies almost always leads to death without prompt treatment, rabies prevention shots were ordered due to the potential of bare skin contact with the saliva of the rabid bat.

Bats infected with rabies quickly show signs. Avoid contact with any bat but especially one that is outdoors during daylight, on the ground, or paralyzed.

Bats rarely attack humans; however, any physical contact with a rabid bat may transmit the disease. If there is any chance that contact with a bat occurred to a person or pet or you’re not sure if contact occurred, capture the bat without touching it and immediately call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 1-866-604-6789.

Because rabies almost always leads to death without treatment, exposure must be avoided. Post-exposure treatment is also expensive, costing about $2500.

County Public Health Director Christine Schulyer is reminding residents that no matter how sad it is to see an animal in need, it is important to KEEP AWAY when it appears or behaves in a sick manner.  She says the most effective way to protect yourself is to learn about rabies and how to reduce the risk of exposure to yourself and your pets.

New York State law requires that all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies. For further information about rabies and the many free upcoming rabies clinics, contact the Chautauqua County Department of Health at 1-866-604-6789.

County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says human contact with bats should be avoided and because pets are more at risk from rabid bats, all dogs, cats and ferrets more than three months old need to be vaccinated, as required by law, against rabies. Bats infected with rabies quickly show signs. Avoid contact with any bat but especially one that is outdoors during daylight, on the ground, or paralyzed.

If there is any chance that contact with a bat occurred to a person or pet or you’re not sure if contact occurred, capture the bat without touching it. You should also immediately call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 1-866-604-6789.