I have written many times in my work that the goal of my writing is to inform you on information surrounding species’ health. The goal of my writing is NOT to make you scared or stressed about a certain situation or problem. 

However, I do believe that sharing valuable information surrounding species health is extremely important.

The Green Mountain state is currently experiencing a serious health risk when it comes to human and other species’ health. The problem I am talking about is rabies, which researchers have found that the number of wildlife specimens (57) testing positive for the deadly viral brain disease has unfortunately increased steadily since 2020, according to a recent WCAX report.

The news outlet also states that the state of Vermont has administered 300,000 Rabies vaccines this year alone.This is in order to protect your pet and yourself. Fortunately, there has never been a human case of Rabies in Vermont. However, that certainly does not mean you can’t be affected.

Rabies is a very serious health problem facing the United States. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transferred across different species. Rabies is transferred across different species through the saliva of infected species.    

Zoonotic diseases are often caused by harmful germs that can be transferred from different animal hosts. Depending on the zoonotic disease, these illnesses can range in severity, from mild to serious and even death. When an animal has rabies, it is only a matter of time before they succumb to the disease if not treated.

Zoonotic diseases are very common in the United States and around the world. Many scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in humans can be spread from different species. Scientists also predict that a staggering three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases affecting humans first present itself with a different species as a host, according to the CDC.

For rabies to pass from an infected animal to a human, the virus needs to be transferred from the saliva. This can happen in several ways, including bites, scratches, or if any wounds/scratches or eyes are exposed to the infected animal’s saliva. Even though this viral infection is scary, there are some precautions that you can take to keep you and your pets safe.

If you see a nocturnal animal like a raccoon, skunk, bat, possum during the daytime do not approach it.  It is better to be safe than sorry. Even if an animal may seem normal, it is better to keep yourself safe. However, there are some key signs that an animal does have rabies, including, foaming at the mouth, odd behavior, and dirty and ruffled hair.

 If you or your pet are bitten or scratched by a questionable animal, DO NOT wait to seek medical or veterinary assistance. If left untreated, rabies has a 100% fatality percentage. Finally, it would be very wise to vaccinate your pets, if they have not been vaccinated for rabies yet.