Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993 TAG: 9305270317
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ALGOMA LENGTH: Medium
But he didn't. He tried to do what was right - only he couldn't find anyone to tell him what that was.
Now, Snead and his wife, Cheryl, probably will have to spend at least $500 apiece for a series of rabies shots. And their seven horses had to be vaccinated.
"I think everybody's pretty much ignorant about the disease like I was," Snead said. "I knew it was deadly, but I didn't know how deadly. It's pretty much guaranteed you'll die if you get it."
Snead's problem is increasingly becoming a problem for all Southwest Virginians. After a six-to-eight-year hiatus from this part of the state, rabies cases are on the rise.
Since August, Franklin, Henry and Patrick counties have had seven confirmed rabies cases involving five racoons and two skunks. That might not seem like a lot, but state health officials point out that only counts the rabid animals that died where they could be checked - many others probably died in the woods or where no one took them in for testing.
Rabies has spread throughout Virginia since the late 1970s when racoons experienced an outbreak of the disease. In 1978, there were 14 cases of rabies reported in the state. By 1982, there were 745. Since then the numbers have leveled off in the area of the 362 confirmed cases reported in 1992.
"Traditionally, rabies has been thought of as a rural problem," said Dr. Suzanne Jenkins, assistant epidemiologist with the state health department, "but with the racoon outbreak, and racoons living in cities, it presents some unique problems."
Snead said he has learned some valuable lessons from his experience. When he got home from work last Thursday, his wife told him there was an animal dying next to a fence on their farm.
The racoon was dead by the time he got to it. He called 911, but he said game wardens would not come to the property unless he had been bitten by the racoon.
He called a veterinarian, who told him to put on some heavy rubber gloves, put it in a bag and have it tested. The test cost him $20. When Snead learned the animal was rabid, he and others started second-guessing how he handled it.
Rabies is transmitted through an animal's saliva or spinal fluid. Snead had gloves on when he handled the racoon, but his wife didn't.
"When they started asking whether we had done certain things, we couldn't remember exactly what we did," Snead said. "We're 90 percent sure we're OK, but with something like this, that's not good enough for me."
Rabid animals can act either overly aggressive or overly docile, according to Tim Baker, environmental health manager with the state Health Department. Jenkins and Baker said the rabies outbreak in racoons makes it even more important for people to have dogs and cats vaccinated - because dogs and cats are likely to contact racoons in the wild.
"There's all kind of critters that pass through this yard at night - skunks, possums, whatever else," Cheryl Snead said. "So you really have to take great care to get your animals vaccinated."
\ RABIES PREVENTION\ THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SUGGESTS FIVE THINGS\ \ 1. Vaccinate dogs, cats and livestock. This will serve as a "barrier" between rabid wild animals and humans.\ \ 2. Keep animals on your property. Don't leave garbage or pet food outside where it can attract wild animals.\ \ 3. If a wild or stray animal is acting strangely, stay away from it. Call the local animal control officer.\ \ 4. If a pet is bitten by another animal, report it to the animal control officer and contact a veterinarian.\ \ 5. If you think you have been exposed to rabies, wash the area with soap and water. Then call the local health department and a doctor.
by CNB