RABIES STILL LOOMING IN MESA COUNTY

  • Two bats have tested positive for rabies within the last three weeks.
  • Rabies is common in bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes.
  • Rabies is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected animal.
  • If you get bitten by an animal, wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention!
    • Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, so treatment is vital.
  • Protect your pets:
    • Stay up-to-date on rabies vaccination.
      • Pets must be licensed with Mesa County Animal Services. In order to license your pet, it must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination, which is administered annually or every three years.
      • Unvaccinated pets that are exposed to rabies could need to be quarantined or euthanized.
    • Leash pets while walking or hiking, keeping them away from wild animals – dead or alive.
    • Keep pets inside at night.
    • Call your veterinarian if you think your pet has been in contact with a wild animal.
  • Protect your home:
    • Animal-proof your trashcans. Lock lids and do not leave bags of garbage outside of cans.
    • Prune tree branches that overhang the roof.
    • Keep screens on windows and cover small openings, such as chimneys, furnace ducts and eaves.
    • If you find a bat in your home, contact Mesa County Animal Services immediately. It may need to be submitted for rabies testing.
  • Protect yourself and your family:
    • Avoid contact with wild animals.
    • Do not try to rescue injured or sick wild animals or keep wild animals as pets.
  • Visit health.mesacounty.us for more information on rabies.

 

BE A REAL-TIME CONTRIBUTOR: HELP MCPH TRACK THE FLU, LOCALLY

  • Flu season is underway in our community and Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) needs your help tracking the illness through Flu Near You.
    • Tracking symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, headache, etc. during the flu season will help our disease detectives monitor flu activity and prevent the spread of the illness.
  • MCPH currently tracks:
    • Flu reports for people who are hospitalized for their infection or when a death occurs due to flu in a person younger than 18 years.
    • Reports of flu-like illness and the number of flu tests performed each week from area emergency departments, labs and certain clinics.
  • Reporting to Flu Near You is an anonymous and completely confidential community-driven application that allows flu and symptom tracking locally and across the country.
    • After setting up a free account – which takes about two minutes – you’ll receive an email once a week asking you to report if you were healthy or sick (and if so, what symptoms you experienced).
  • Sign up, commit and become a real-time contributor to public health surveillance in Mesa County!