Bush dog brought to Anchorage
tests positive for rabies
March 05, 2009
Thursday
Anchorage, AK -The Municipality of Anchorage euthanized a husky-mix
dog on March 1 after the dog, recently brought to Anchorage from
the Bush, bit its Anchorage trainer on Feb. 27. The trainer and
five other people who had close contact with the dog are receiving
shots to prevent rabies.
Officials with the State Department
of Health and Social Services, Section of Epidemiology received
notification of the bite and contacted Anchorage Animal Control
on Feb. 28. Three Animal Control officers responded to impound
the animal that day. Testing by the state confirmed the dog had
rabies.
The dog was rescued from a
village in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, where other dogs
were attacked by a fox in February. The dog showed no sign of
having been bitten by the fox and so was spared when the other
dogs involved were euthanized by the village safety officer.
The dog arrived in Anchorage on Feb. 16.
Officials with the state, the
Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services,
and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation have taken the proper
precautions and safety measures in both the village and Anchorage
area to ensure the safety of all staff and the general public.
These measures included cleaning and disinfecting all areas where
the dog had been held and investigating whether any other people
or animals may have had contact with the dog. The investigation
determined that the dog was kept confined or under its trainer's
control since its arrival in Anchorage.
According to state records,
this is the first time a rabid dog has been brought into Anchorage
from the Bush since 1992. The general public should be aware
of the following:
1. Any person bitten by an
animal is required to report the incident to Anchorage Animal
Control, 343-8119. The public can help prevent the potential
transmission of rabies by reporting all incidents.
2. All dogs, cats, and ferrets
are required to be current on rabies vaccination in the Municipality
of Anchorage. Rabies vaccinations help protect pets AND people.
3. Unless on the owner's property
or a designated "leash-free" zone, all pets, cats and
dogs must be restrained by leash or confined. This is for the
animal's as well as the public's protection.
On the Web:
Ketchikan Animal Protection:
The Ketchikan Department of Animal Protection ordinances pertain
to the residents and animals within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
http://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/animal/fees_and_ordinances.htm
Information on rabies
CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies
Anchorage Animal Care &
Control Center
http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/id/rabies/default.htm
or http://www.muni.org/Healthmsd/animal.cfm
Source of News:
Alaska Department of Health
& Social Services
www.hss.state.ak.us
Anchorage Animal Control
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