Raccoons Test Positive for Rabies
Raccoons Test Positive for Rabies
Raccoons Test Positive for Rabies
DATE: June 12, 2012 Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH
Commissioner of Health 435-3155 |
Uninsured women ages 40 to 64 will have the valuable opportunity to receive free breast exams, mammograms, and Pap tests at Syracuse Community Health Center located at 819 S. Salina Street, in collaboration with the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program (CSP) Partnership. For uninsured women ages 50 to 64, a free at-home colorectal cancer screening kit will also be offered. There will be two screening days available at this location. They are Wednesday, June 6th and Tuesday, June 26th. Appointments are necessary and can be scheduled by calling the CSP today at 435-3653.
Studies show that the uninsured are less likely to seek preventative medical care. The CSP encourages uninsured women and men of Onondaga County to put their health first and to schedule their free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings today.
According to the American Cancer Society, the likelihood of women and men in the U.S. developing some form of cancer in their lifetime is very high. In the U.S., one in three women and one in two men are likely to develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. Routine screenings are an important step towards the early detection of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Make it a point to obtain routine cancer screenings for yourself and to remind your family members to do the same.
If you are uninsured, do not miss this valuable and potentially life-saving opportunity to be screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Call 435-3653 today to schedule your appointment!
For more information on free cancer screenings find us on Facebook or visit our website at /health/cancerscreening.html.
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Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Dr. Cynthia B. Morrow, announced today that the New York State Health Department laboratory has reported that a feral cat, found in the Town of Clay, has tested positive for rabies. The adult black cat had been living in the area along Jackson Road. Any person who believes that they had physical contact with the cat should contact their physician to determine if they need to receive rabies vaccine. This is the first finding of rabies in a cat since August 2010.
Dr. Morrow stresses that it is important not to touch or feed unknown or feral cats because they interact with wildlife and have the potential to be rabid. If you have a feral cat on your property and want to have it removed, contact a professional animal removal service.
Protecting yourself from rabies is important year round. Rabies is a fatal disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It can take several weeks to several months for rabies symptoms to appear. Early treatment after an exposure can prevent rabies.
Any mammal can get rabies, but it is most often seen in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Below are steps to help prevent rabies:
„X Teach children to stay away from unfamiliar animals, either wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
„X Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
„X If your family or your pet has been exposed to a bat, capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. If you awaken to find a bat in your room, or a bat is present in the room of an unattended or sleeping child or, in a room with someone with a mental impairment, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
„X Be a responsible pet owner by keeping your pet’s vaccinations current. This is especially important for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Getting your pet vaccinated can help stop the spread of rabies from wild animals to humans.
Onondaga County Health Department offers a number of clinics throughout the year to protect your pet from rabies. New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get an initial shot at three months of age. They also need to get a booster shot at one year old and again every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year. For a full schedule of upcoming 2012 rabies clinics, visit www.ongov.net/health or call 435-3165.