Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Dec 18 12:35:24 1997


                        December 18, 1997
 
Rabies Threat Continues in Region
 
     Rabies in livestock can be a problem, experts say.  In fact,
at least one person has been exposed to rabies by rabid cows
since Nov. 1 in North Dakota, according to the North Dakota
Department of Health.  The North Dakota State University
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has diagnosed rabies in three
cows during the same time period. 
     That's not a serious problem, but it does indicate that
livestock producers and the public need to be alert to the
possibility of rabies all year long, according to Charlie
Stoltenow, veterinarian with the NDSU Extension Service.
     "These cows came off pasture and were having difficulty
chewing and swallowing," Stoltenow says.  "I'm sure the producers
thought they were choking and went looking for the obstruction."
     In cattle, rabies affects the ability to swallow and to
bring up the cud for chewing.  Infected cattle have a
characteristic bellow, sometimes stagger and exhibit unusual
behavior ranging from extreme excitement to depression.  The
rabies virus is spread in the saliva and can be transmitted
through any opening in the skin--even those too small to see.
     "On the range, these cattle would die without a diagnosis,
but as cattle are moving back into handling and holding
facilities for the winter, producers may notice symptoms sooner,"
he says.  That's a good time to call the veterinarian. 
     Stoltenow says he suspects most infected cattle get rabies
from skunks. 
     "You have a skunk wandering around during the daytime, and
cattle, being naturally curious, will approach the skunk.  The
skunk looks up, and the first thing it sees is this big fleshy
nose--a perfect place to bite," Stoltenow explains. 
     This year 51 skunks have been submitted to the NDSU
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for testing, and 44, almost 90
percent, were rabid. "If you see a skunk, it's probably best to
assume it has rabies," Stoltenow says.
     Eliminating skunks and other vermin around the house and
farmyard is a good precaution against rabies, he says.
     "Other common carriers of rabies include cats and dogs,"
Stoltenow says. "It's very important to have pets on the farm or
ranch vaccinated.  Everybody thinks of dogs when you talk about
rabies, but cats are an important carrier too."   
     Rabies is incurable and fatal to humans, Stoltenow notes. 
Last year three people died of rabies in the United States.
     The only treatment is a series of shots that prompts the
body to build up the body's own immunity quickly, before the
virus has a chance to multiply and affect its victim. That's why
it's important to learn quickly if you've been exposed to rabies. 
The vaccinations are effective, but expensive, costing up to
$1,000.  Veterinarians and others who may be exposed to rabies
frequently receive a vaccine that provides long-term protection
against the virus.                               
                               ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: Charlie Stoltenow (701) 231-7522
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629