VICENZA, Italy -- Along our journeys in Europe and even in our own communities we see many cats, kittens or dogs lounging in the sun or rubbing against a well-intentioned person's leg. Our children, or even we, may have an urge to pet or feed these adorable creatures.
However, Capt. Rachel Cheramie, Environmental Science/Engineering Officer and Chief, Environmental Health USAHC-Vicenza, warns us to stay away. While many people naturally love cute fluffy cats, sweet dogs and tiny woodland rodents, these stray animals are not like our domestic pets.
What many don't consider is that the seemingly docile stray animals do not receive veterinary care and are not immunized or treated for a host of dangerous parasites and illnesses such as rabies.
Rabies is a deadly viral infection transferred through an infected animal's saliva, and signs of rabies aren't seen in an animal until weeks after infection. The animals are contagious even without symptoms.
"An unassuming, gentle animal potentially carries a plethora of diseases and likely exposure to parasites such as ticks, hookworms, roundworms and fleas, which can all be contracted by humans," said Cheramie. "Children are most likely to be bitten by an animal because of their fast and sometimes unintentionally aggressive movements around animals."
Children may also be more likely to die from rabies as they may conceal their bite wound from parents for fear of being scolded or getting the animal in trouble. According to the World Health Organization's website, often it is too late to save their lives by the time symptoms appear, and 40 percent of people bitten by rabid dogs are under the age of 15.
The World Health Organization's website clarifies the symptoms of rabies as having "an incubation period of three to eight weeks (though sometimes much longer)," where after that time "non-specific symptoms appear, such as headache, fever and numbness of the skin around the site of the bite. A phase of seizures and eventually coma follows, which almost invariably lead to the patient's death."
These are scary but important things to discuss with your family because the best means to avoid rabies, ticks, worms and fleas is to stay away from stray or wild animals. Feeding these animals is particularly dangerous as you will attract more parasites and diseases to the populated areas.
"We firmly insist you avoid feeding feral cats and dogs to avoid all the complications that may result from a bite or scratch. Also, parents need to be good role models for children when it comes to stray/feral animal safety. As a good rule, do not approach, touch, pick up or feed any animal that is not your own pet," said Cheramie.
If contact cannot be avoided and you are bitten, scratched or licked by a wild or stray animal, start with washing the area with warm soapy water. Then go to an emergency department right away for post-exposure prophylaxis treatment, said Cheramie.
During the summer months, we all want to think of fun in the sun and not have to deal with parasites and deadly viruses, so keep safe and avoid all contact with stray or wild animals.
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