PULASKI, Tenn. (WSMV) – Multiple wild animals in Giles County could potentially be rabid.
The Giles County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday afternoon that over the past week, there were two reported incidents of foxes “displaying behavior consistent with rabies or distemper.” On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said a third animal, a skunk, showed similar behavior as those foxes.
The animals have been seen around the city of Pulaski.
No people have been bitten or scratched during the encounters, officials said, but locals are urged to “use caution around wild animals that appear sick, disoriented, or unusually aggressive.”
A local veterinarian told the sheriff’s office that pet owners can take their animals in to get a booster shot for rabies/distemper. The Giles County Animal Shelter also has a limited supply of vaccines available.
What is rabies?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), rabies “is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.”
The disease kills tens of thousands of people every year worldwide, and almost all deaths associated with rabies are transmitted by dogs in countries where dog vaccination programs are “not sufficiently developed” to stop the virus from spreading, the AVMA said.
The AVMA said “it is not unusual for one to two people to die annually” in the U.S. In 2022, the nonprofit said there were 3,579 reported cases of rabies.
Common signs and symptoms of rabies
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said some of the first symptoms of rabies include:
Prodrome including weakness, discomfort, fever, or headacheDiscomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite
The agency said when the disease becomes severe, it causes brain dysfunction within two weeks of the first symptoms. The CDC said the signs of dysfunction could include:
AnxietyInsomniaConfusionAgitationDeliriumHallucinationsHydrophobia (fear of water)HypersalivationSeizures
“Rabies causes encephalitis in infected patients,” the CDC said. “While all patients with encephalitis may not have rabies, all patients with rabies present with encephalitis.”
What to do if you are bitten by an animal with rabies
The Mayo Clinic said individuals who believe they have been bitten by an animal with rabies need to act quickly because once the infection takes hold, there is no treatment.
“Once a rabies infection is established, there’s no effective treatment. Though a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease usually causes death,” the medical center said.
The Mayo Clinic said if you believe you have been bitten by an animal with rabies, you must get a series of shots to prevent the infection. The medical center shared this information on the shots:
A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. This is given if you haven’t had the rabies vaccine. This injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.A series of rabies vaccinations to help your body learn to identify and fight the rabies virus. Rabies vaccinations are given as injections in your arm. If you haven’t previously had the rabies vaccines, you’ll receive four injections over 14 days. If you have had the rabies vaccine, you’ll have two injections over the first three days.
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