SBC Public HealthBy the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognizing, September 28, 2022 as World Rabies Day. The year’s theme “One Health, Zero Deaths” highlights the connection of the environment with both people and animals. Rabies is a preventable viral disease that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Rabies can pass from wild animals, commonly bats and skunks in Santa Barbara County, to pets. Although transmission to humans is rare, the disease is nearly always fatal.
“If you have been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you have been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses,” shared Deputy Director for Community Health Paige Batson. “It is important to know that, unlike most other animals that carry rabies, many types of bats have very small teeth, which may leave marks that disappear quickly and can be easily missed. If you are unsure, seek medical advice to be safe.”
Many times, animal bites or scratches go unreported. It is important to report these incidents, especially if the animal has symptoms of rabies including agitation, biting and snapping, drooling, acting disoriented, appearing partially paralyzed, or generally acting sick. Please report these incidents online at https://www.countyofsb.org/1396/Report-an-Animal-Bite.
Rabies vaccinations are recommended for all warm-blooded domestic animals including cats, dogs, horses, and livestock. Santa Barbara County residents and their pets often live in close contact with wildlife. Community members can protect their pets by keeping them indoors at night, walking them with a leash, scanning the yard for wildlife before allowing them outside, and not leaving food outside that will attract wildlife. If you notice a typically nocturnal animal that is active during the day and acting abnormally, please contact Santa Barbara County Animal Services at (805) 681-5285 for assistance.
Rabies is a preventable disease that can be avoided by leaving all wildlife alone and vaccinating your family pets.
Would be useful to have a statistic to learn how recently anyone has died of rabies in this county. Only 15 human rabies cases have occurred in California since 1980. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the United States declined during the twentieth century, from more than 100 annually in the early 1900’s to just one or two per year since 1960.