EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – A health alert from El Paso County officials was issued Friday night following an attack by a pack of coyotes.
According to a release provided by El Paso County Public Health, a sheep tested positive for rabies after being attacked by coyotes. The attack took place on August 4 on a property in the Elbert / Swarte Wâldgebiet.
“Public health requires citizens in the Elbert, Black Forest area to be alert to wildlife, especially coyotes, batons, raccoons, skunks and foxes. It is important for people bitten or scratched by a wild to contact their doctor and Public Health directly. “Preventive vaccination is available to people known to have been in contact with a rabid animal,” public prosecutor Natalie Sosa wrote in a release.
The pack of coyotes was described as “aggressive” in the issue sent out by Sosa.
The following information was provided by El Paso County Public Health.
Take these precautions to prevent rabies:
– Vaccinate your pets against rabies with the help of a licensed veterinarian. Rabies shoes need to be raised, so check your pet’s records or talk to your veteran.
– When walking or walking your dog, protect them and the wildlife by keeping your dog on a leash.
– Keep cats and other pets indoors at night to reduce the risk of exposure to other pets and wildlife. Keep dogs in your sight (in a fenced yard, as on leash) during the day while they are outside.
– Make sure vacation outdoors is safe from wandering wildlife
– Contact your veterinarian directly if you believe your pet has been exposed to wildlife.
– Do not touch or feed wild animals. Wild animals such as skunks and foxes adapt to living environments when food is available – please do not leave pets outside.
– If humans or pets are bitten or scratched by a wild or unknown animal, call your doctor and report them to the El Paso County Public Health by-report.
How to recognize sick wild animals:
– Healthy wild animals are usually afraid of humans.
– Sick animals often do not run away when they are detected by humans.
– Wildlife suffering from rabies will often act aggressively and approach people as pets violently.
– But sometimes rabid animals are too quiet and passive and want to hide. If they’re hiding, just leave them alone. Rabid wildlife can also be tough or have trouble walking.
TO RABIES OF EL PASO COUNTY HEALTH:
Rabies is a virus that is transmitted by mammals. Rabies affects the brain and other parts of the central nervous system, causing brain swelling and damage, and is almost always fatal when symptoms appear. Rabies is spread primarily by the bite of rabid animals, via infected saliva. Dogs can also be spread if saliva from an infected animal enters open wounds, cuts or enters through membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.
Visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org for more information
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