FAQ – Diseases and Health Concerns

• Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies.
• Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals.
• Keep family pets indoors at night.
• Bat-proof your home or summer camp in the fall or winter.
• The majority of human rabies cases are caused by bat bites. Bat bites are so small, many people never realize they are bitten. Inform your physician if a bat is in the room with a child or sleeping person. If possible, submit the bat for testing. Do not release it!
• Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if any animal bites them.

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to your county health unit. Do not let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies. Depending on the species, an animal can be observed or tested for rabies in order to avoid the need for rabies treatment.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system and is nearly always fatal. Only a handful of people throughout the world have ever survived a rabies infection.

Rabies is most often seen in skunks and bats in Arkansas, but other wild animals can transmit rabies. Cats, dogs, ferrets and livestock can also develop rabies, especially if they are not vaccinated.

For more information visit our Rabies page