The Oswego County Health Department reported today (June 3) that a bat found in a town of Mexico home has tested positive for rabies. As a result, the health department is investigating family members to determine if there have been any exposures to the bat. Also, three house cats must be placed in six-month quarantine as a result of their exposures.
Hundreds of people took advantage of the first rabies clinic of the year on Wednesday night to safeguard their pets from the rabies virus. “Rabies continues to be a threat in Oswego County,” said Jiancheng Huang, Oswego County Public Health Director. Three wild animals so far this year have tested positive for the disease. The two most recent attacked unvaccinated pets.
Following the discovery of seven rabid skunks in the city of Watertown and recent cases of potential human exposure in St. Lawrence and Oswego counties, State Senator Patty Ritchie announced the addition of $875,000 in new funding in the Senate’s budget plan to fight and prevent the deadly disease. “We did see rabies activities earlier this year than in past years and attributed it to unusually warm winter that kept many wild animal active,” said Jiancheng Huang, Oswego County Public Health Director.
The Oswego County Health Department will hold a rabies clinic Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 6to8 p.m.at the Hannibal Town Highway Garage,Cemetery Drive.
The first rabies clinic of the year drew nearly 425 animals to the county DPW garage in Scriba. Another clinic is planned for next month in Parish.
The Oswego County Health Department is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture again this year in a rabies vaccine distribution program to prevent the spread of raccoon rabies in New York State. Planes flying over rural northern Oswego County will drop packets of rabies vaccine between today (Aug. 28) and Sept. 3.All Content Copyright Dot Publishing 2024. All Submissions Become Property of Dot Publishing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.