Tulsa County on High Alert: Preventing Rabies Spread
In Tulsa County, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is on high alert to prevent and manage casetify of rabies. Despite no human cases reported in the county, the risk of exposure to this deadly virus remains. The OSDH is responsible for testing animals and ensuring the vaccination of domestic pets.
Rabies is a serious concern in Oklahoma, with the virus present in the brain, spinal cord, and saliva of infected animals. It's spread through bites or contact with infected saliva. The OSDH requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Unvaccinated animals exposed to rabies must be quarantined or, unfortunately, euthanized to prevent the disease's spread.
If you're bitten by an unvaccinated animal, the animal should be quarantined and observed for ten days. This is crucial as rabies symptoms in animals can include illness, unusual tameness, difficulty moving, or unprovoked aggression. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
Tulsa County residents are urged to vaccinate their pets and avoid contact with wild animals that could carry rabies, such as skunks, bats, or wild carnivores. If you suspect an animal has rabies, contact the OSDH immediately. Together, we can keep Tulsa County rabies-free.
