Rabies reported in nearby Colorado communities

There's more than one reason to scurry from a nearby skunk.

At Tuesday's city council meeting, Sidney Mayor Wendall Gaston announced reports of rabies in towns close to Sidney. Communities in northern Colorado have discovered the disease in their feral cat and skunk populations, Gaston said.

With the number of people and animals that travel between Sidney and Sterling, Colo., the mayor expressed concern the issue could spread.

No cases have been confirmed so far in Cheyenne or any of the surrounding Nebraska counties, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. However, there have been multiple confirmations in nearby Colorado counties.

Deanna Herbert, public information officer at Northeast Colorado Health Department confirmed an increase in reports from Peetz, Colo.

"We've had a lot of rabies since the beginning of the year," Herbert said.

A family in the Iliff area unknowingly took in a feral cat infected with the disease. As a result, the two adults and one minor in the family had to receive rabies treatments.

"Because we've seen it get into feral cat populations, that's why we've seen it in humans," Herbert said.

Her organization has reported nine humans who had to undergo rabies treatments since the beginning of the year. Six of them were exposed to the virus by cats.

This year Sedgwick county has reported two skunks. Weld reported eight skunks and one horse and Logan county reported 14 skunks, one horse and one cat, according to the Colorado Public Department of Health and Environment.

"Once symptoms start, rabies is not treatable in humans," Herbert said.

The strain of the disease currently spreading in this area is different than the one typically seen in bats. This strain is spread by skunks. It first surfaced in this region in 2007.

"Because of the way skunks move around near other animals, it's concerning," Herbert said.

That skunks are familiar around farm, ranch and residential structures also causes alarm.

“The fact that we’re seeing rabid animals in populated areas presents an increased threat to public health,” said Dr. Tony Cappello, NCHD’s public health director in a press statement. “Anytime a disease enters an area with a larger population there is a significant increase in the possibility of human exposure.”

There are some fairly simple ways to avoid rabies, according to health experts.

"Getting a pet vaccinated creates a barrier between any rabid wildlife they may come in contact with and their human family members," Herbert said.

Although people may be wary of wild animals, they’re often not as careful with pets.

“People don’t often approach skunks or other wildlife if they are acting strange or appear ill, but it’s typical for family members to want to handle or comfort their own pets if they think there’s a problem; that’s where we’re seeing human exposures through bites and scratches of their own pets,” said Dr. Cappello in his statement.

Pet vaccination is an easy alternative to undergoing human treatment after possible exposure, Cappello said. It is also much less costly than the human treatment.

The treatment that humans get after exposure is called post-exposure prophylaxis. This treatment not available for animals. PEP is a series of five shots that can be very pricey, sometime costing over a thousand dollars, Herbert explained.

The symptoms of rabies in humans at the very beginning of the disease are similar those of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort, according to NCHD. If the disease progresses, the symptoms become more telling. A person in the more advanced stages of rabies might exhibit symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, an increase in saliva production, difficulty swallowing and fear of water.

Signs of rabies in animals usually begin with a behavior change, the NCHD reports. The disease could cause nocturnal animals like skunks, foxes and bats to venture out during the daytime. Rabid animals may stumble, shake or seem frightened for no reason. Rabid animals do not always show signs or symptoms before death from the disease.

Leah Bucco-White, the public information officer at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, agreed that it is wise to always vaccinate pets.

She also cautions against attempting to play with wild animals and to be careful when adopting strays, turning them over to a veterinarian for examination before introducing them to the house.

Other tips from Bucco-White: Avoid animals that act aggressively or abnormally. Get rid of any bats that get into your home as quickly as possible. Clean up piles of brush or debris that would provide an attractive environment for skunks. Be careful not to attract wild animals with food left out for pets.