Rabies

Rabies is mainly spread through bites from rabid animals. It can also spread indirectly when saliva or tissues come into contact with cuts, scratches or other wet membranes such as your eyes, nose, or mouth.  In Weld County, rabies has been found in bats, skunks, and a few other species.

Prevention:

• Avoid touching or feeding wild animals. 
• Prevent pets from having contact with wildlife.
• Keep pets, horses, and livestock up to date on their rabies vaccine.
  
  

What if I find a dead or sick animal?

• Avoid touching the animal and keep pets and livestock away.
• If the sick animal is a wild animal and no people or pets have been exposed, report the sick animal to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
• If the sick animal is a domestic animal, such as a dog or cat, report the sick animal to your local animal control agency.  You can contact your local animal control through the Weld County Regional Communications Center at 970-350-9600.
• If the sick or dead animal is a bat and it was found in a room or other area where people or pets had definite contact with the bat or could have had contact without knowing (i.e., a person asleep in a room where the bat was found, a child or pet unsupervised in an area where a bat was found, etc.), call your local animal control agency or the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at 970-400-2290.  
• When there is an exposure concern with a bat, try to contain it in an enclosed area and, if it's safe to do so, capture the bat in a container, such as a coffee can or similar container with a tight fitting lid.  Be sure to wear gloves, leather preferred, when capturing the bat.  If the bat is still alive, poke small air holes in the lid.  
  
  

If there was any contact between the animal and a person or pet, call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) at 970-400-2290 before disposing of any carcasses.

For disposal of an animal with no exposure, review the Animal Carcass Disposal Guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  

What to do after a confirmed or potential exposure?

If you or your pet were bitten or potentially exposed, it is important to seek guidance.  Rabies is a 100% fatal disease but is preventable when treated early. Take care to immediately wash the affected area with soap and water, then seek medical advice from your primary care provider in a timely fashion or go to your local Emergency Department.  If you were bitten by a domestic animal, such as a dog or cat, refer to this document(PDF, 456KB).

It is also important to contact WCDPHE at 970-400-2290 so that we can help assess your risk and determine if you need post-exposure treatment for rabies.  If your pet was exposed, we can also assess their risk and help determine the next best steps in their treatment.

To report an animal bite or other exposure online:

https://weldtempevents.wufoo.com/forms/sywv5to0nun3ca/

For more information:

Centers for Disease Control