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Steer clear of strays

Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Friday, June 15, 2007

INUVIK - With 12 reported cases of animal bites in Inuvik since April 2007, health officials are warning people to be careful around strange animals.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Chris Beveridge, senior environmental health officer for the Inuvik region, wants people to be aware of rabies in the area. He held a clinic last week. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Senior environmental health officer Chris Beveridge said that there were 56 reported cases of animals inflicting injuries to humans in the last fiscal year.

"That means there were 56 bites and scratches that were reported to us," said Beveridge.

"There were probably more, but people don't report them."

Beveridge said people in town should watch out when approaching any stray animal.

"There have been cases of rabies in the region this year and people in Inuvik should be aware to stay safe," said Beveridge.

A man was bitten in the face by a rabid dog in Fort Good Hope in April this year.

"The dog tested positive for rabies and we helped the man right away," he said.

"The faster we treat someone who has been bitten the better chances we have of treating the virus."

Beveridge said that once a rabid animal has bitten you, the virus infects your nervous system and, if left untreated, will eventually travel to the brain.

"The farther away the bite is from your head the longer you have to get vaccinated," he said.

"You should get treated right away no matter where the bite is."

Beveridge also reported a bite in Inuvik this year where the dog couldn't be found for a test.

"In that case, we treat the person for the virus as soon as possible," said Beveridge.

He said that cases of bites where the animal can't be located are treated as high risk.

"We call it high risk because we don't know for sure what state the animal was in when it came into contact with a person," said Beveridge.

Since rabies can be contracted through blood and saliva, Beveridge said to make sure your animals are vaccinated.

"Keeping your pets' vaccinations up to date is important to staying safe," said Beveridge.

There are also vaccinations people can take if they have high risk jobs that deal with animals on a regular basis.

"If you're an animal control officer, or work with animals at all, there is a shot you can take to keep prepared," he said.

Beveridge said the most important thing to remember is to be careful and keep your children informed about the virus.