The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of rabies. More than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia , die from rabies every year-- a rate of one person every ten minutes. The most important source of rabies in humans in other parts of the world is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. This large impact of rabies on human health in Asia and Africa is due to a lack of animal control infrastructure, lack of rabies vaccination of dogs, and inadequate availability of appropriate medical care and rabies post exposure prophylaxis for humans.
Prior to the 1960s, the dog variant of rabies virus was still endemic to the U.S. Animal control agencies played a vital role in eliminating rabies from dogs in the U.S. and still play an important role in preventing rabies from becoming endemic in dogs and cats in the U.S. by:
• controlling the number of strays • adopting out spayed/neutered pets that are vaccinated • enforcing local leash laws • providing free or low cost rabies vaccination clinics • educating residents on rabies & proper care of pets
Rabies is still a threat to domestic animal health in Arizona , as rabies is still endemic in bats, skunks, and fox. The Arizona Gray Fox variant and the Central U.S. Skunk variant are endemic primarily in central and southeastern Arizona (counties of Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz , and Yavapai). The Arizona Gray Fox variant is also endemic in northern Maricopa County where the southern boundaries of Tonto National Forest interface with the northern reaches of Cave Creek and Carefree. However, bats serve as the most important source of rabies exposure to pets and humans in the U.S. Even in the heart of Phoenix , several rabid bats are found by children and pets each year.
Please educate your clients about the importance of keeping their pets current on rabies vaccination. If a pet is overdue for rabies vaccination and has contact with a bat, fox, or skunk that is unavailable for testing, the owner will have to pay for the 6-month quarantine in an animal control or veterinary facility. In rural areas of the state where coyotes, bobcats, and javelinas have been confirmed with rabies infection, exposures to such animals require the same quarantine. Many owners cannot pay for such extended confinement and must have their pet euthanized.
In Arizona , many veterinarians partner with animal control agencies and animal shelters in their community by volunteering their services during rabies vaccination clinics or by contracting with the agency to provide spaying and neutering. Such collaboration is vital in maintaining animal control infrastructure throughout Arizona . There are many rural communities in Arizona with inadequate veterinary services, and the local animal control agency and shelter struggle to provide the services needed in their community. If you are contacted by an animal control agency or shelter for assistance, please consider contributing your expertise and time for the benefit of the community, animal health, and public health.
For information on World Rabies Day events planned in Arizona , please visit: www.azdhs.gov.
POSTER CONTEST Submit a rabies prevention poster before September 6, 2007 and you could be the winner of a one-year pass to the Phoenix Zoo for your family. Click on this link for details.
If you would like an activity posted here, please email agency, date and contact information to wamplec@azdhs.gov. If you would like to host an event, visit www.worldrabiesday.org for background information, talking points, ideas for reaching out to partners in your community, and World Rabies Day merchandise.
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control has published a comic book on bats and rabies to distribute to schools which had bat incidents during the past year. Please send an email to ahollis@mail.maricopa.gov to request more information. Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is hosting a free rabies vaccination clinic on September 8, 2007 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at 5231 N. 35th Avenue in Phoenix (35th Ave. & Missouri).
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is hosting a free rabies vaccination clinic on September 9, 2007 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at 70 E. Civic Center Drive in Gilbert (S. Gilbert Rd. & Warner).
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control's East & West Valley Shelters: During the week of August 8-14th: If you get a ticket for not having your dog vaccinated during this week, bring the dog down to one of our facilities before the 14th. Rabies vaccination will be provided free of charge and the penalty fees will be waived. For more information, visit their website at: www.maricopa.gov/pets.
The Coconino County Health Department is sponsoring a World Rabies Day event at Olsens' Grain in Flagstaff on September 8 from 12noon - 2:00pm. Canine & feline vaccinations will be administered at no cost. For more information, please visit the website & click on "Calendar of Events" or call 928-522-7940. View the flyer
Fort Mohave Tribal Ranger Department & Long Lake Animal Shelter will be hosting a Rabies Clinic on September 8th for the pet owners who reside on the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation. The event will take place at the Aha Macav Housing Entity located at 4000 Roosevelt Drive in Mohave Valley, AZ 86440 from 8:30AM - 10:30AM. Free water and soda will be provided. Also offered: Free drawings for 3 complimentary grooming certificates to redeem at the local "Doggy Styles Grooming" located at 1541 Vista Drive, Mohave Valley, AZ. As always, complimentary spay & neutering certificates are available to tribal members. Even transportation to the veterinarian clinic is provided for the surgery. Non-tribal members who reside on reservation are offered a discounted altering certificate for their pet or pets to get spayed or neutered. For more information, contact the Fort Mohave Tribal Ranger Department - Long Lake Animal Shelter at (928) 330-3000
Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be issuing a press release at the end of August 2007 to announce the first annual World Rabies Day. Return to this website for updates.
Prior to the 1960s, the dog strain of rabies virus was present in the United States. Animal Control agencies played a vital role in eliminating rabies from dogs in the U.S. and still play an important role in preventing rabies infections in dogs and cats in the U.S. by:
• Controlling the number of strays • Adopting out spayed/neutered pets that are vaccinated • Enforcing local leash laws • Providing free or low-cost rabies vaccination clinics • Educating residents on rabies and responsible care of pets
