Commission Reminds Residents To Be
Cautious Against Rabies
 BOSTON --The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified public health departments that the limited supply of human rabies vaccine is being used at a higher rate than expected. Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus (a tiny germ) that can be prevented. The virus is found in the saliva and brain/nervous tissue of an infected animal.
Rabies is spread when the virus from an animal’s saliva or brain/nervous tissue, enters a person’s open cut, wound, mouth, or eyes. This is usually done though a bite from an infected animal but could also be from a scratch, if the animal, such as a cat was licking its paw before it scratched you. Rabies is not spread though contact with urine, feces, or blood of an infected animals. You cannot get rabies by petting an animal. Here are some steps you can take to prevent a rabies exposure:
- Never touch, feed, or take care of wild animals, stray dogs, or cats
- Avoid any animal that is acting strange or sick
- Do not keep wild animals as pets
- Do not touch or pick up dead animals
- Do not attract wild animals to your house by feeding pets outside or leaving garbage cans open or littering
- Be sure your dogs, cats, and ferrets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations
- Call animal control at 617-635-5348 to take away any stray animals
- Be sure to prevent bats from getting into your home
- Keep pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal or exposed to a bat, seek veterinary assistance for your pet immediately
- Teach children about how to stay safe from rabies
For more information about rabies, please contact the Communicable Disease Control Division at 617-534-5611. |
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