Avoiding rabies

With cold season, seasonal flu and H1N1 flu to worry about, there's no need to panic over the increase in rabies cases across Missouri. But an ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.

Missouri's public health veterinarian, Dr. Howard Pue, said there have been 55 cases of rabies in the state through September, a number that usually equals the total for an entire year.

Rabies is spread mostly by the bites of infected animals. Humans bitten by a rabid animal must take a series of shots.

Our outdoor pets also can come into contact with rabid wild animals, which are plentiful in Southeast Missouri, even in heavily populated areas. The best way to protect pets is through annual rabies vaccinations.

Anyone who is bitten by an animal should take extra precautions. If the animal is a pet, it should be observed for 10 days to determine if it is rabid. If the animal that bites someone can't be captured or killed, the series of shots is given just in case.

Keeping ourselves and our pets safe from rabies is fairly simple as long as certain guidelines are followed. Annual visits to a vet for healthy pets is a good idea.