County Logs 486 Animal Bites

Here's a report people can sink their teeth into.

Environmental Manager Al Gray has released the Florida Department of Health's "Rabies Surveillance Program" covering the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008.

During that time, there were 486 confirmed animal bites: 327 from dogs, 146 from cats and 13 from other animals.

Those "other" animals include a fox, raccoon and mouse.

Gray said the report includes cat scratches because felines lick their paws and the rabies virus is carried in the saliva and transferred to humans.

Of those 486 cases, 29 of the animals' heads were sent to a Tampa laboratory for rabies testing. Only two tested positive for rabies.

The only way to determine if the animal was rabid is to examine the brain.

Dogs, cats, raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks commonly carry the rabies virus. Rabbits, squirrels, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and other rodents are rarely found to be infected and have not been known to cause rabies in humans in Florida.

Animals with rabies may show strange behavior. They may be aggressive, attacking for no apparent reason, or act very tame. They may drool a lot due to difficulty swallowing. They also may stagger or become paralyzed.

Meanwhile, there will be at least one more animal bite statistic when the first quarter of 2009 comes out.

The sheriff's office reported an animal complaint involving Barbara Greenham, of Spring Hill.

Greenham, 36, was giving her sister-in-law's cat, named Funny Face, a bath around 3 p.m. Sunday when it became upset and bit her on the left hand, according to a sheriff's report.

Greenham told a deputy she initially didn't think anything of it. However, several hours later, her hand began to swell slightly and she was in pain, the report said.

Greenham, who said Funny Face was up-to-date on vaccinations, went to the Spring Hill Regional Hospital emergency room and had her hand checked out, the report said.

Greenham was examined, found to be in good condition and there are no apparent problems at this time, according to the health department.

The Hernando County Health Department recommends people follow these guidelines to help prevent exposure to rabid animals:

•Vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of three months against rabies. Vaccinations should be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

•Avoid all free-roaming dogs, cats and wild animals.

•Do not allow pets to run free. Follow leash laws and keep pets and livestock secured on the property.

•Do not feed or pet wild animals.

RABIES INFO:

For more information on rabies, contact the Hernando County Health Department at 540-6812.

The Hernando County Health Department investigates all animal bite complaints. To file a bite report, call 540-6800.