June 14, 2023
Rabies resilience
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Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Submitted photo The St. Charles County Department of Public Health received confirmation that a bat found in Lake Saint Louis last month tested positive for the rabies virus. Including this latest finding last month, there have been seven positive rabies cases in Missouri this year. This is the first case in St. Charles County since 2020. The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services collects data on rabies reports on a monthly basis.
Awareness and vaccines are the best ways to prevent rabies infection in pets and their owners By Brett Auten Bites from bats are the main source of rabies in humans in the United States today. Although the vast majority of bats do not have rabies, any potential encounter with a bat must be assessed for the possibility of rabies transmission. The St. Charles County Department of Public Health received confirmation last month that a bat found in Lake Saint Louis tested positive for the rabies virus. Department of Public Health Acting Director Sara Evers said that the bat was discovered in a home, and while the homeowner was not bitten, St. Charles County Public Health
nurses assessed the situation for any potential exposure to determine if there is a need for treatment. Any mammal can be infected with rabies, but bats (less than 1% are infected) and skunks (a variable percent are infected) are the most significant rabies-vector species in Missouri. “Rabies is a dangerous virus found in the saliva of mammals that infects the nervous system,” Evers said. “The discovery of this infected animal serves as a reminder that annual vaccination is the best way to prevent rabies infection in pets and their owners and is required for all pets.” Evers said that rabies illness requires man-
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datory preventative actions and extensive treatment, so it is important that people and their pets avoid contact with live or dead wild or stray animals. Including this latest finding, there have been seven positive rabies cases in Missouri this year. This is the first case in St. Charles County since 2020. The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services collects data on rabies reports on a monthly basis. All St. Charles County veterinarians can provide rabies vaccination and the accompanying rabies registration for their clients. This registration comes with an annual rabies See ’RABIES’ page 2
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