Rabies confirmed in Aberdeen dog
UPDATE: Health Department Officials are looking for pitbull puppies bought or adopted in the last three weeks. Anyone who has come in contact with a pit bull puppy from the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen is urged to call the Monmouth County Health Department at 732-432-7456 ext. 8580. After business hours, call 732-845-2004.
Monmouth County officials have confirmed that an Aberdeen dog that bit at least three people in the past three weeks tested positive for rabies.
MoreMonmouthMusings has confirmed that the dog, a 2 year old black male pit bull with a white neck, is from the County Road area of the Cliffwood section of the Township. The dog was three feet tall and weighed 90 pounds.
The dog did not have a current rabies vaccination. The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) is urging area residents who may have been bitten by a dog in the past three weeks to contact the health department at 732-431-7456, ext. 8580 immediately.
Mayor Fred Tagliarini told MMM that the Township has alerted residents to the rabies risk via reverse 9-11, social media and through the schools.
“We are asking that anyone in the Aberdeen area who was bitten or exposed to this family pit bull, contact the Health Department immediately,” said Christopher Merkel, Monmouth County Public Health Coordinator. “We are currently working to identify anyone who may have come in contact with this dog in the last three weeks.”
Several dogs had contact with this dog while it may have been shedding rabies virus and they will be monitored by the MCHD.
The investigation is ongoing to determine if additional people and pets may have been exposed to this dog and are at risk for rabies.
“Rabies in dogs is uncommon in New Jersey,” said Merkel “Over the past five years, MCHD has confirmed 10 cats and only this dog with rabies in Monmouth County.”
According to the NJ DOH, the last rabid dog was identified in 2008; there have only been 8 dogs, including this case, confirmed with rabies since the raccoon variant virus entered the New Jersey in 1989.
“This is a reminder to all other residents to check your pet’s vaccination and health records and make sure they are current,” said Merkel. “Rabies vaccination of dogs and cats offers a very high level of protection against the virus.”
According to the NJ Department of Health, the last rabid dog was identified in 2008; there have only been 8 dogs, including this case, confirmed with rabies since the raccoon variant virus entered the New Jersey in 1989.
“This is a reminder to all other residents to check your pet’s vaccination and health records and make sure they are current,” said Merkel. “Rabies vaccination of dogs and cats offers a very high level of protection against the virus.”
Dogs and cats who receive an initial rabies vaccination are not considered immunized until 28 days after the vaccine has been administered, therefore it is strongly recommended that any animal newly vaccinated or those too young to receive the vaccine (less than three months) not be left outdoors unattended.
“Protecting your pets by keeping them current on their rabies vaccine is an important buffer between wildlife rabies and human exposure,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the MCHD. “Not only does the vaccine keep your pet safe, but it can help keep you and your family safe as well.”
In addition to vaccinating your pets for rabies, there are several things residents can do to protect themselves and their pets:
- Avoid wildlife and animals you do not know.
- Keep your pet on a leash. Do not allow your pet to roam; it can come in contact with rabid wildlife.
- Never feed or touch wild or stray animals, especially stray cats, bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes or groundhogs.
- Teach your children that they should tell you if they were bitten or scratched by an animal.
- Call your doctor and the local health department if bitten or exposed to saliva or blood of a wild or stray animal.
- Contact your veterinarian if your pet was exposed to a bat, raccoon, skunk or other wild carnivore.
“If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention,” said Merkel.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the CDC each year from New Jersey occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks and bats.
CDC explains that the rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.
The presence of rabies in animals may be indicated by unprovoked aggression, impaired movement, paralysis, lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior and/or disorientation.
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This is not a photo of the rabid pitbull. It was used to make all pits look scary, vicious, and rabid. Shameful.
This makes me so sad. Horrible people didn’t take care of their pets.
Is this a picture of the actual rabid dog?
Did you just find some random picture of a pit bull and use it?
Should have used a picture of a really sad dog if you didn’t have picture of actual dog.
Susan Henderson, I am the proud owner of a very gentle, friendly Golden Retriever (Puppy Jack).
Susan, very few Golden Retrievers bite people. By contrast, a disproportionately high number of pit bulls engage in inappropriate, violent behavior. Pit bulls have earned the bad reputation that they have. These dogs, as a breed, are extremely violent and dangerous. Don’t you dare fault people for speaking the truth.
Jim,….what? the dog was rabid which points to bad ownership not the breed. Susan was right that it wasn’t right to post a picture of a random pitbull and not the actual dog- there was no reason.
Y would you choose that type of picture. Smh, horrible
Because, you clueless bitch, pit bulls are violent — far more violent — than any other breed of dog. Pit bulls are a menace and a burden to society.
Are you kidding me? The dog is described as black with white markings. Why is that photo necessary?
So offensive. Find a picture of an ACTUALLY rabid animal. There are plenty of wildlife photos you could use from your Google search.
Use a raccoon, skunk, groundhog, or a fox. An accurate picture could help to educate your readers, instead of some random picture symbol. You’re using it simply because it’s a pitbull, and that’s disgraceful.
are we seeing so many pit bulls?? Is it true that, while they can be trained to be more docile, they are often used by gangs/drug dealers? Appears that they are easier to train to be “protectors” and “enforcers,” and become quite dangerous, unfortunately, sometimes by design..with all the more gentle breeds, and mutts available for adoption, this seems an unnecessary risk from the get-go..
I have to say the ignorance on this thread is sickening. Where do you think these pit bulls mostly come from?! Low class neighborhoods. Cities that are full of scumbags that use animals to make their money instead of going out and getting a real legal job. If you wanted to train a dog to protect you and “fight” to make you money would you want a fluffy golden retriever standing by you?! Do you think a lab is going to fit the “part”?! The answer is an obvious no. The “animals” that choose to over breed pit bulls and fight them are the problem. Stop blaming the dog. It’s ignorant people like those on this thread that are part of the ever growing problems with breed discrimination. Please step out of your pit bull hating bubble and educate yourself. The dog didn’t get rabies because he’s a pit bull, he got rabies because his owners obviously lack the common sense of animal vaccines. The dog didn’t bite because he/she was a pit bull. And how dare you not have sympathy for the poor dog that died because it’s owners weren’t smart enough to vaccinate. Like I said, educate yourself before you comment.