Rabid animal confirmed on base

  • Published
  • By Captain Joanna R. Buckley
  • 72nd Medical Group
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A recent report of a suspected rabid wild animal at Vance Air Froce Base has been confirmed positive for the viral disease Rabies. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Transmission occurs when infected saliva enters the body through a wound or a mucus membrane. The most effective way to prevent the spread of rabies is to vaccinate all of your pets, whether indoor or outdoor, and to absolutely avoid approaching wildlife, no matter how cute or how hurt they appear.

Not only is vaccination of all dogs and cats for rabies a base regulation, it is also a state regulation. Only rabies vaccines administered by a licensed veterinarian are considered valid. If you have administered this vaccination to your pet by yourself, your pet may not be adequately protected. In addition, if your pet is vaccinated but is still bitten, the vaccination may still not prevent the contraction of the disease.

If your pet has been bitten by any wild or stray animal, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you have been bitten by any animal, you need to notify your family practitioner so that appropriate actions can be taken to locate the animal and ensure that they are not infected.

Rabies is a real disease that is sustained in wildlife. The most common carriers are skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Because a rabid animal has been tested and positively identified on base, you need to notify the Security Forces Squadron immediately if a suspicious animal is seen. Suspicious behaviors include unusually curious or friendly wild life, animals that are stumbling or having difficulty moving, animals that are salivating excessively or are unusually aggressive. Many rabid wild animals will become victims of a "hit-by-car" accident. Never approach a wild animal, especially one that appears to be hurt, and leave dead animals alone.

If your pet has not had a valid rabies vaccination within the past year, please contact your off-base veterinarian or the Tinker AFB Veterinary Clinic to schedule a visit to update your pet's vaccinations. You can reach the Tinker AFB Veterinary Clinic during normal duty hours at (405) 734-5780 or DSN: 884-5780.