Rabid bat warning issued by Los Angeles health office

[Elmore Furth]

THE SNAKE
(Oscar Brown Jr.)

Al Wilson

Also recorded by:
Belle Stars; Oscar Brown Jr.;
The Mint Juleps; Johnny Rivers; Paula West.

On her way to work one morning
Down the path along side the lake
A tender hearted woman saw a poor half frozen snake
His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
"Poor thing," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
"Take me in tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

...

She clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried
"But if I hadn't brought you in, by now you might have died"
Now she stroked his pretty skin again and then kissed and held him tight
But instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite!
"Take me in, oh tender woman
Take me in for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"Now I saved you," cried the woman
And you've bit me, even why?
And you know your bite is poisonous and now I'm going to die"
"Ah shut up, silly woman," said that reptile with a grin
“Now you knew darn well I was a snake before you brought me in



THE SNAKE

Los Angeles county health officials have issued a warning to residents, telling them to be on the lookout for rabid bats.

The Department of Public Health said 21 rabid bats had been found in the county this year so far, twice the number typically found in the region.

Health director Jonathan Fielding said it was unclear why the number of rabid bats had increased.

One resident, who was attempting to nurse a bat back to health, was bitten and was treated for rabies, county officials said.



Rabid bat warning issued by Los Angeles health office

[foxfeet]

1. Ann Coulter in town, is she? n/t

[kestrel91316]

2. Every. Single. Day.

Every single day of my working life I try to get through to my clients the importance of rabies vaccinations in their cats and what to do if they encounter a bat in their home, yard, on the ground, brought in by their pet, anywhere other than flying around in the air where it belongs. And EVERY SINGLE DAY some layperson "informs" me that we don't need to worry about rabies in this area.

The blind ignorance here is staggering.

[virgogal]

3. Do they all think they are in Hawaii? That must be incredibly

frustrating for you.

[bemildred]

4. Watch out for rabid squirrels too. nt

[kestrel91316]

5. Total BS. Squirrels do not pose a rabies threat.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies/background.html



This map doesn't depict bat rabies, just the major terrestrial sources. Squirrels have NEVER been a source of rabies in the wild.

[bemildred]

6. Dang, you are right, it's bubonic plague you can get from squirrels.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7019199044

And you can get various other diseases from squirrels.

Animal Rabies

Traditionally, rabies exists in two forms in a community. The urban form, propagated chiefly by unimmunized cats and dogs, and sylvatic, propagated in North American by bats, coyotes, foxes raccoons and skunks. Infection in domestic animals represents a "spillover" from sylvatic reservoirs of infection. In the United States today, wildlife accounts for over 90% of reported cases of animal rabies. Every opportunity should be taken to educate the public on the risks of trauma and infectious diseases associated with contact with wild animals. The control of rabies in bats and terrestrial mammals is very difficult. Selective population reduction may be useful in terrestrial rabies outbreaks, but the success of these efforts depends on the circumstances surrounding each rabies outbreak episode. It is generally not feasible or desirable to attempt wild carnivore or bat population reductions as a means of rabies control. Wildlife vaccination in California is not currently indicated due to the rabies strain types present here and the lack of a spreading epizootic.

Animals with rabies may exhibit telltale signs that something is physically wrong. Excessive salivation, avoidance of food and water, unusual aggression, daytime activity in a nocturnal animal (bat, skunk, raccoon, etc.), impaired locomotion, varying degrees of paralysis (frequently beginning in the hind legs), extreme depression, or bizarre behavior are potential signs of rabies. These signs indicate that extreme caution must be taken when approaching or attempting to interact with the animal. Generally, a lack of fear of humans is also unusual behavior for wild animals. Special procedures are often required to trap animals for observation and/or rabies testing. If wild animals drink or eat out of a pet's bowl, there is little or no risk of rabies virus transmission to the pet. However, the practice should be discouraged because it may expose the pet to other illnesses.

By 1960, mandatory vaccination of dogs in the United States largely controlled canine and human rabies. This immune barrier has been established nationwide at a cost of over $300 million annually. Cats are also vaccinated for rabies but it is not mandatory and feline rabies is now more common than canine rabies in the United States. With the widespread vaccination of cats and dogs in the United States, most endemic human rabies is a result of contact with rabid wildlife, particularly bats.

http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/rabiesmanual/introduction.htm