Saturday, April 27, 2013
Three dogs were exposed to raccoons that tested positive for rabies.
Two raccoons have tested positive for rabies in the the nearby Sewickley Valley area, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Guillermo Cole, health department spokesman, said the raccoons were recently tested after one fought with a dog in the Park Lane area of Glen Osborne. The other was killed by a pair of dogs in a yard on Redgate Road in Aleppo. No humans were exposed, and Cole said all three dogs were up to date on their rabies vaccines. The dogs are being quarantined to their homes and observed for three months as a precaution, he said. "These incidents are a reminder to pet owners," Cole said, "to make sure their pets rabies shots are up to date." The two raccoons are the fourth and fifth incidents of rabid animals …
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Allegheny County Health Department encourages residents to call immediately if they come in contact with a bat.
A Richland Township family found a bat in their home that tested positive for rabies, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. "A family with one child found a bat in its home that subsequently tested positive for rabies," a press release on the health department's website states. "As a precaution, the family is being treated with anti-rabies vaccine and (is) not expected to develop rabies." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the bat was found Sunday against a window in the home and it died as the family tried to capture it. Anyone finding a bat in his or her home is encouraged to report it immediately to the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-2243. "When a bat is found, wear a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves and …
Friday, August 19, 2011
Rabies-vaccine-baiting program for raccoons wraps up this week.
- NEWS
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Prompted by recent incidents in which people or pets were potentially exposed to rabid bats, the Allegheny County Health Department is urging residents to report all bats found in the home because of the risk of rabies. The health department emphasized the importance of reporting bats that are found in areas where people sleep, even when a person is not sure if he or she has been bitten and exposed to the bat's saliva. Bat bites can be so tiny they may leave no marks visible to the naked eye and so painless they may not even be felt by someone while sleeping, a health department press release said. Bat encounters should be reported to ACHD immediately by calling 412-687-ACHD (2243). Health officials will evaluate the risk and test the bat…
Friday, July 29, 2011
Allegheny County Health Department employees will start distributing the bait Aug. 15.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, July 29, 2011
In a proactive move to fight rabies, Allegheny County will begin distributing raccoon bait containing rabies vaccine Aug. 15 . Employees with the Allegheny County Health Department will distribute the bait by hand, on foot and from vehicles in all the county's municipalities. Two types of bait will be used: one in which vaccine contained in a plastic sachet is enclosed in fishmeal pellets and a second in which the plastic sachet is coated with fish oil scent. The vaccine, when consumed by the raccoons, helps them develop antibodies to the rabies virus. The baits pose no threat to humans or pets, according to the health department. Rabies is a viral infection that can affect the nervous system of any mammal, including humans. It is …
Jenna Staul
9:57 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Can I just say this is terrifying (to me, only, maybe)? About a year ago I had a bat fly at my head outside of my apartment. A few weeks ago, while sitting on my apartment porch in Moon, a friend pointed out that he saw multiple bats flying down from a pine tree that is adjacent from my building. So now I'll be (even more) paranoid. Sheesh! more ›