Latest news with #rabies
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Aussie travellers warned to be vigilant as deadly disease causes alarm in Bali
Tourists heading to Bali are being warned to be vigilant after a rise in rabies cases has sparked panic at popular holiday hotspots. Authorities believe the disease has been spread by several rabid dogs in tourist-heavy areas, such as South Kuta and parts of the Mengwi District, including tourist favourites like Canggu's Pererenan Beach and Seseh, and red zones have been declared following a number of dog bite incidents. Australian vet Will Maginness works closely with Bali-based rescue organisation Mission Paws'ible. He told Yahoo News tourists should "definitely be vigilant around stray animals" since the hotspots are "where many Australians travel". However, the ongoing situation doesn't mean Aussies should avoid travelling to Bali completely. "Just keep your distance from all street dogs, and be aware that it currently is there, at the hotspots, and to be safe. But I wouldn't avoid travelling to Bali," he told Yahoo. Balinese authorities believe up to five dogs have caused spread Anak Agung Brahmi Witari, Acting Head of Animal Health, told local reporters the location of the cases has likely exacerbated the issue as South Kuta has many bushes used "as a nest by wild dogs". "The case is at least one or two dogs, no more than five," he said. Mass vaccination efforts launched immediately, and authorities are reportedly working with local animal welfare organisations to sterilise and vaccinate dogs in tourist hotspots.. "Vaccination is protection for us and pets," Witari said. From January to March alone, there's reportedly been 13,000 rabies cases and 25 people have died in Bali after being bitten by the infected animals, 7News reported this week. While dogs are usually the main threat of rabies in Bali, other animals, such as monkeys, also pose a risk. This was the case for Aussie traveller Jami Groves, who forked out $6,000 for rabies shots after a monkey bit her last year at Monkey Forest in Ubud. Advice for travellers to protect against rabies virus Maginness allayed concerns that the recent spike in rabid dogs in Bali could be a threat to canines here in Australia. He urged travellers to worry about their own health first and foremost, and said there was no risk for pets. "The rabies virus is spread through saliva, and it needs an open wound to be able to transmit to humans or dogs. We're very fortunate here in Australia that, to this point, rabies does not exist, so our dogs are safe. We are very blessed," he said. 🤫 Aussies forced to remain indoors as Bali comes to 'standstill' 👀 1.5 million travellers warned of hidden health risk in Bali 🦇 Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus The best way for travellers to safeguard themselves against rabies is to get the vaccination prior to travel, and to seek medical attention immediately after being bitten by a potentially rabid dog. Those heading to the country are advised to familiarise themselves with post-exposure protocols, which can be found here. The virus is 100 per cent fatal once symptoms are present, however death is preventable with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis, which stops it from reaching the central nervous system. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Biological treatment service for rabies ceases, leading to fears for people exposed to virus
People exposed to rabies are at risk of being 'missed, lost to follow up or inappropriately managed' after a service providing biological treatment for such patients stopped operating, a senior HSE official has said. Until the start of this month, a service operated out of Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, was responsible for the assessment of patients and delivery of 'critical' biologics to patients with acute post-exposure treatment of rabies, diphtheria and botulinum. On July 3rd, Colm Henry , chief clinical officer at the HSE, wrote to the country's regional executive officers and regional clinical directors following the retirement of the doctor who ran the Cherry Orchard service. Following his retirement on July 4th, the service would cease to operate, Dr Henry said. READ MORE 'While this service had never been commissioned as a national service, it had, in effect, provided advice and treatment on management of potentially or actually exposed patients for many years from all over the country,' his letter said. Dr Henry said in light of the 'importance' of this service, the National Health Protection Office has been working with key partners and stakeholders to support implementation of a new regional service model. 'There are risks, while these discussions are taking place, of gaps in service and therefore potential for a person with a rabies prone exposure being missed, lost to follow up or inappropriately managed,' his letter said. Dr Henry requested the regional executive officers to work with stakeholders and structures to 'ensure provision of service and further development of same to address issues and risks identified'. According to his letter, there are areas in which there has been consensus in relation to the establishment of regional services, including a proposed role for emergency departments, which will see and assess new presentations. However, he also highlighted a number of 'issues requiring further consideration/agreement' such as the provision of out-of-hours services or infectious diseases on-call hours for weekends and bank holidays. In a statement, a spokesman for the HSE said the service for rabies exposure was 'formally reorganised on a regional footprint to better meet the needs of local populations'. The spokesman said a working group will work with implementation committees to 'mitigate any risk relating to access to assessment and care for patients, potentially created by the standing down of a previously available service, which had been in place for many years'. Rabies is a rare viral infection, but a person's risk of contracting it becomes significant if they travel to parts of the world where rabies is common in land-based animals. If a person is exposed to an animal in such countries, they must immediately seek medical advice and report this contact to a local hospital or clinic to enable assessment. Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease, mainly affecting the respiratory system. The most recent case of diphtheria in Ireland was in 2016. Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. There has been a surge in botulism poisonings in England over the past six weeks.
CBS News
18 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Denver Animal Protection warns public, pet owners after bats test positive for rabies
A second bat has tested positive for rabies in Denver, this time in the Highlands Neighborhood. The first bat of the year to test positive in Denver was found in the Sloan Lake Neighborhood on July 8. On July 17, a family in the Highlands Neighborhood reported a second positive bat. Rabies can be transmitted through saliva, usually through a bite from an animal with the disease. Authorities said the disease affects the nervous system and is usually fatal if symptoms develop. They stressed the importance of keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations. A low-cost vaccine clinic is available at the Denver Animal Shelter on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Fort Collins Natural Areas Program said, "Like all mammals, bats can get rabies. However, only ½ of 1% of bats contract rabies. When they do, they are very sick and usually die. If you see a bat on the ground or during the daytime, it might be sick. Don't touch it, keep children and pets away." You can learn more about the types of bats in Colorado here. The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment urged the public to be cautious and avoid contact with bats and other wild animals. They said that most people in Denver come into contact with bats when they find their way into a home, and advised residents not to sleep with open and unscreened windows and doors. If a bat manages to enter the house, close it off and call Denver Animal Protection to remove it. If an animal bites you, DAP said to flush the wound and wash thoroughly with soap and water, then contact your doctor. Someone bitten by an animal positive for rabies may be started on post-exposure prophylaxis treatment to prevent the development of the disease. All animal bites and scratches should be reported to DAP
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Once-eradicated virus now declared 'imminent public health threat' for millions of Americans
New Yorkers are facing an 'imminent public health threat' linked to a virus that parts of the state had eliminated years ago. Rabies is making a comeback in Nassau County - an area on Long Island about 30 miles east of New York City - with new infections among animals becoming 'widespread,' according to county health officials, who warn the city and island's 11 million residents should be on alert. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' said Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr Irina Gelman. There have been 25 cases of rabies in animals over the past 12 months. Four additional suspected cases are currently being tested. Rabies has not yet infected any people in the area. Still, Gelman declared an 'imminent public health threat,' which means the county can allocate more resources to disease mitigation and prevention efforts. The virus, public health officials believe, has migrated from New York City, where funding for rabies infection prevention in animals in the area has dried up. Rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries, with most cases occurring in Africa and Asia. According to the World Health Organization, this number is likely a gross underestimate. Human infections are rare in the US, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually, largely due to widespread animal vaccinations, effective public health measures, and the availability of post-exposure care that can save patients. Without prompt treatment, though, nearly 100 percent of patients infected with the virus die. To avoid infection, health officials advise against feeding or touching wild animals, stray cats, or dogs. Additionally, they recommend keeping pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and keeping puppies too young to receive the vaccine indoors, only allowing them outside if someone is supervising them. They also told residents to spread the word about avoiding wild animals, especially those acting abnormally. If a wild animal gets onto your property, they advise people to bring pets and young children inside until the animal is removed and contact an animal control expert to safely remove it. And they said not to touch dead or dying animals. If they need to be moved, use a shovel to double-bag them and leave them in an outdoor garbage bin. Rabies can spread to humans or pets through bites, scratches, or contact with saliva from an infected animal, particularly when it comes into contact with open wounds, eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus is most commonly seen in raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but three feral cats that traveled from Queens in New York City to Long Island were found to harbor the virus. Nassau County has had successful eradication of rabies since 2016, prior to this most recent outbreak. Gilman said: 'There may be more cases out in the wild — because we've confirmed 25, it's indicative of wider spread. 'First of all, [there's concern in] the sheer volume of cases that we have seen in one year, but also the rate of spread and also, the fact that it is feral domesticated animals.' The county will continue its rabies mitigation efforts through the fall, anticipating an increase in animal cases and concerns about potential human transmission. 'When someone sees a cat in their backyard, it's not necessarily as much of a reaction as seeing a wild animal,' Gelman added, warning that children may also unknowingly play with a rabid cat. The health department plans to use a rabies vaccine bait drop along the border with Queens and throughout the county. It involves distributing edible baits containing the rabies vaccine, often by air or vehicle, in residential areas where rabies is prevalent. 'The time for prevention is now,' Gelman said. 'One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That's exactly what we're trying to accomplish here.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Nassau County declares rabies an imminent public health threat as cases rise. Here's what to know.
Nassau County is warning residents about the rise of rabies. The Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat Monday over the spread of rabies among wild animals. Health officials say 25 animals, including raccoons and feral cats, have been confirmed to have rabies since last July. They say this marks a significant resurgence of rabies after it was eradicated in the county in 2016. "Protecting public health and safety is a top priority in Nassau County," Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman said in a statement Monday. "With this declaration, we are taking decisive action to safeguard our residents, their families, and their pets from this dangerous virus." "The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern," said Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman. "This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents." Earlier this summer, officials in Suffolk County also reported a rise in rabies cases after 15 years without any. Nassau County officials say they will continue with a rabies control program in the fall, which uses bait to immunize raccoons. Rabies is a viral disease that can be spread to humans and pets if an infected animal bites, scratches or their saliva contacts the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. Health officials say no human cases have been reported in the county to date. They recommend the following steps to protect against possible exposure: If you or your pets have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal seek immediate care. Then, call the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9663. You can also report any dead, sick, or animals acting abnormally to rabies@ for collection and testing.
