Residents in Chippewa and Dunn counties have been alerted by health authorities to potential problems with two diseases transmitted to humans by animals.
The Chippewa County Department of Public Health issued an alert Wednesday after a bat tested positive for rabies. On Tuesday, the Dunn County Health Department reported that two horses in the county had tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Chippewa County bat found to be rabid after encounter with a human
Kristen Kelm, Community Health Division manager in the Chippewa County department, said in a press release that this is the first bat to test rabid in the county this year. In 2019, the county had two bats that tested rabid.
Most exposures to rabies for humans or animals occur through a bite or scratch of a rabid animal. In the last 10 years, animals reported with rabies in Wisconsin include skunks, bats, cows, dogs, cats, horses, foxes and raccoons.
Wild animals at particular risk, particularly skunks and bats, often expose domestic/farm animals.
More information regarding rabies in animals is available from the Chippewa County Department of Public Health at 715-726-7900.
The department recommended that pet owners check and update their pets’ vaccination histories, and that they keep records that note the type of vaccine (one-year or three-year duration). If a pet has been in a fight with a wild animal, its owner should contact a veterinarian and the local health department.
The press release also said that any human exposure to bats, whether or not a bite was involved, should be discussed as soon as possible with a physician or the health department. Bites or scratches from any wild animal should be washed immediately with liberal amounts of soap and water, and then reported to a physician as well as to the local public health department.
If an incident occurs after business hours, the report should go to the local law enforcement agency.
Public warned to avoid mosquito bites after Dunn County tests confirm two horses infected with Eastern equine encephalitis
The two Dunn County horses that tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis were the first documented EEE activity in the state this year, according to a Health Department press release.
No EEE cases in humans have been reported in Wisconsin so far this year and there were only three human cases of it in Wisconsin between 1964 and 2017.
The disease is caused by the EEE virus, which is spread to humans, horses and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds.
The virus is not spread from person to person or directly between animals, nor from animals to humans. However, the horses’ positive tests confirm the presence of infected mosquitoes whose bites can spread the virus to people and other animals.
Many with EEE virus don’t get sick
The Health Department noted that many people infected with the EEE virus do not get sick. Those who do may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that typically begins with the sudden development of fever, headache, chills and vomiting.
Severe cases of encephalitis can result in disorientation, seizures, coma or death. There is no specific treatment for the disease.
In horses, signs of EEE infection include depression, loss of appetite, drooping eyelids and lower lip, blindness, paralysis and death. Horse owners can vaccinate their horses against the EEE virus to protect them from becoming ill.
Protection tips
The county Health Department provided a list of tips to avoid getting mosquito bites. Heading the list was spending limited time outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
More information about the EEE virus is available at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mosquito/eee.htm.
Another key recommendation was to apply an insect repellant with DEET, IR3535, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and clothing. The department also suggested making sure window and door screens are in good repair, and inhibiting mosquito breeding by removing stagnant water from such items as tin cans, plastic containers, flowerpots, discarded tires, roof gutters and downspouts.
Other tips included:
- Turning over wheelbarrows, wading pools, boats and canoes when not in use.
- Changing the water in bird baths and pet dishes at least every three days.
- Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs, and draining water from pool covers.
- Trimming tall grass, weeds and vines, since mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours.