HAVE A HEALTHY SUMMER IN MESA COUNTY
- New to the
area? Your new home may pose different health risks than your previous one. - In recent
years, Mesa County has seen increased activity in hantavirus, tularemia and
plague – all of which can be carried by animals. - Awareness and
prevention are key in protecting yourself and your family against these
diseases. - Avoid handling
wild animals – dead or alive. Chances
are, if a wild animal is allowing you to handle it, it is likely sick. - Keep in mind,
even your pets can carry these diseases and bring them into your home. - Do not allow your pets to consume animal
carcasses. - Leash your pets when outdoors and keep them away
from dead animals. - Talk with your veterinarian about tick and
flea prevention for your pets, as some diseases can be spread through tick
and/or flea bites. - Reduce rodent
habitat around your home, work place and recreational areas, as well. - Remove brush, rock piles, junk, cluttered
firewood and other nesting areas from your property. - Make sure pet food is sealed.
- Make sure your home and outbuildings are
rodent-proof. - If you find a
dead animal on your property, do not
pick it up with your bare hands. - Place the carcass in a garbage bag using a long-handled
shovel. - Double bag the carcass.
- Dispose of the carcass in a sealed outdoor
garbage can, away from people and pets. - If you notice an unusual animal die-off on your property, contact
Mesa County Health Department at 254-4120 to have the carcasses tested for
diseases. - Mesa County
also sees bat migration this time of year, and some even stay for the summer. - Bats can carry
rabies virus, which has been found in Mesa County in the past. - Examine your
home for holes that might allow bats entry. - Caulk any openings larger than a quarter-inch
by a half-inch. - Use window
screens, chimney caps and draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical
and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking and ensure that all
doors to the outside close tightly. - Prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering
outside entry points. - Observe where
the bats exit at dusk and keep them from coming back by loosely hanging clear
plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas. - Bats can crawl
out and leave, but cannot re-enter. When all the bats are gone, the openings
can be permanently sealed.