Rabies: What Kids need to know!

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This presentation was adapted from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization.

What is Rabies?

• Rabies is a dangerous disease caused by a virus.

• Around the world, rabies kills 50,000 people and millions of animals each year.

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What Does Rabies Do?

• Rabies causes a disease in the brain.

• This makes animals act in ways that they normally would not.

• Wild animals may act nice or mean.

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Where is Rabies?

• The rabies virus is only found in mammals and it is mostly found in wild mammals.

• Mammals are animals that are warm-blooded, grow hair and make milk to feed their babies.

• The rabies virus does not infect birds, fish, reptiles or amphibians.

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Any mammal can get rabies!

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BatsSkunks

CowsDogs

Raccoons

FoxesCats

How do you get rabies?• Rabies is in the saliva and the brain of an

animal with rabies.

• People and animals can get rabies if they are bitten by or get saliva in their eyes, nose, mouth or a wound from an animal infected with rabies.

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Bats are SPECIAL• Bats are good for the environment. • They have very small teeth .

• You might not even feel their bite.• Never touch or go near a bat!• Tell an adult if:

– A bat gets very near you or touches you– You see a bat in a room– You see a bat on the ground or acting

oddly

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Bat Bite

How does rabies make you sick?

• The virus travels along the nerves to the spinal cord and brain.

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If a person or animal gets rabies, they will almost always die from it!

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Even though any mammal can get rabies, some mammals are more likely to get rabies

and those are....

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Raccoons

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Skunks

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Foxes

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Bats

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Ground Hogs

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Mammals that are LESS likely to give you rabies

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Chipmunks

RABBITS & BUNNIES Rats & Mice

Squi

rrel

s

Can pets get rabies?

What kinds of pets could get rabies?

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Cats - especially stray or unvaccinated

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Dogs - especially stray or unvaccinated

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Other animals you may have that can get rabies

Ferrets

Horses20

Cows

Sheep

Animals that CANNOT give you rabies

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Birds! Reptiles & Amphibians

How do you tell if an animal has rabies?

•Some animals may •Act very mean•Have problems walking•Drool

BUT………………

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How do you tell if an animal has rabies?

• ….it’s important to remember that you can’t tell if an animal has rabies just by the way it’s acting.

• Animals that appear healthy may have rabies.

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Rabies in Virginia

• About 500 animals per year get rabies in Virginia.

• Raccoons, foxes and skunks are the most common animals to get rabies.

• Animals like bats, cats, cows, horses and dogs also get rabies.

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The best way to prevent rabies (in pets and in people) is to make sure your pets are

vaccinated against rabies!!

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Can rabies be STOPPED?

YES!!!!!!!!!

• Vaccinate your pets.• Stay away from stray animals.• Enjoy wildlife from a distance.

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Can rabies be STOPPED?

YES!!!!!!!!!

• If you are bitten or scratched by an animal (and remember…bats are special):– Tell an adult (like a parent or a

teacher) immediately– Wash the wound out with soap and

water– Call your doctor or local health

department right away

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Protect yourself and your pets

• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your dogs and cats.

• Ask your veterinarian about rabies vaccines that can be used in other animals.

• Tell an adult if your pet is bitten by another animal and call your local animal control or health department right away.

• Keep your pets from straying far away from your house.

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Protect yourself and your pets• Help keep wildlife that can give you

rabies away from your home by: – Keeping lids on trash cans– Storing pet food either inside your

house or in closed containers outside

– Feeding your pets inside or bringing

their bowls in at night

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Protect yourself and others• Never touch a stray or wild animal• Never adopt a wild animal as a

pet• Don’t try to feed wild mammals• Always ask permission to touch

someone else’s pet• Tell an adult if:

– you see a wild or stray animal acting strangely

– you see an animal that looks ill or injured and might need help

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Rabies Quiz

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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Which of these animals can give you rabies?

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DOGS?

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DOGS?

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YES

RACOONS?

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RACOONS?

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YES

SNAKES?

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SNAKES?

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NO

CATS?

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CATS?

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YES

RABBITS?

(Hint: This one’s a little tricky.)

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RABBITS?

(Hint: This one’s a little tricky.)

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YES

True or False?

Rabies is caused by a virus.

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True or False?

Rabies is caused by a virus.

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True!

True or False?

A bite from a snake can give you rabies.

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True or False?

A bite from a snake can give you rabies.

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False

True or False?

The rabies virus affects the brain and spinal cord.

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True or False?

The rabies virus affects the brain and spinal cord.

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True!

True or False?

If you are bitten by an animal, you should clean the wound right away.

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True or False?

If you are bitten by an animal, you should clean the wound right away.

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True!

True or False?

People can get rabies from the saliva of an animal with rabies.

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True or False?

People can get rabies from the saliva of an animal with rabies.

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True!

True or False?

You can always tell, just by looking, if an animal has rabies.

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True or False?

You can always tell, just by looking, if an animal has rabies.

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False

The best way to protect yourself from rabies is?

A. Never touch stray or wild animals.

B. Ask your veterinarian to vaccinate your pets.

C. Tell an adult if you see a wild or stray animal acting strangely.

D. Keep lids on your trash cans.

E. All the Above.

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The best way to protect yourself from rabies is?

A. Never touch stray or wild animals.

B. Ask your veterinarian to vaccinate your pets.

C. Tell an adult if you see a wild or stray animal acting strangely.

D. Keep lids on your trash cans.

E. All the Above.

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Learn more about Rabies• www.cdc.gov

– Kids Against Rabies page– www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/

• www.vdh.virginia.gov– Rabies control page– www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/DEE/Rabies/

• www.dgif.virginia.gov– Look under “About DGIF” and “Wildlife

Information”

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Local contacts for help with rabies

•www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/index.htm-Directory of local health departments

•www.virginia.gov/government/federal-and-local

-Find local animal control offices

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The End

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