Outbreak Alert - Rabies - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The following was sent to us by Jack Chellew, Mid-Atlantic Equine Sales Specialist for Merial Ltd., A Sanofi Company:

On 7/2/2013, a case of rabies was reported in a Raccoon in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Among wild animals, the disease is most often reported in skunks and raccoons but is also found in bats and foxes,^1,2 and usually is transmitted from the saliva of an infected animal into a bite wound.¹

Every case of rabies presents a death sentence to the infected horse - and a risk of infection for other horses.¹ Infected horses may show common signs including depression, lack of coordination and aggressive behavior,¹ or display more obscure signs, such as lameness or colic.³

Because the signs of rabies can vary so widely - and the disease is so serious - some experts recommend that horse owners think of rabies first whenever they see unexplained clinical signs in horses.³

Disease prevention - through vaccination and good management - is good for the horse, owner and equine veterinarian. MERIAL® vaccines provide the tools to help prevent some of the most common and most serious equine diseases, including rabies. IMRAB® is a rabies vaccine made by Merial and approved for use in six species of animals, including horses. And it is available in a combination vaccine that also helps protect against Potomac horse fever.

For more information about rabies or other equine diseases, talk with your veterinarian.