Facts About Rabies

The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging precautions to reduce the risk of contracting rabies. There has been a higher than usual number of animal rabies cases in Texas this year, particularly in Central Texas and the North Texas region. Protect yourself by avoiding wild animals and animals acting strangely, and by vaccinating your family pets. Facts About Rabies.

Bats and skunks are the most common animals found to have rabies in Texas. People can be exposed to rabies by an animal bite or scratch that breaks the skin or if an open wound comes in direct contact with an infected animal's saliva. People also can be exposed if the saliva from a rabid animal gets in a person's eyes, nose, or mouth.

The most effective ways to prevent exposure to rabies are:

• Avoid feeding, touching or adopting wild animals, such as bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes
• Report suspicious animals to local animal control
• Vaccinate your family pets or livestock against rabies
• If you are bitten or if saliva from a suspected rabid animal comes in contact with your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound, wash the exposure site and seek medical attention immediately

Rabies is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur. However, a series of post-exposure shots can prevent rabies if given in time.