One skunk in Lexington was found to have rabies after its remains had been surveyed by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Originally, the Masterson Station area had the infected animal, and citizens were questioned about contact with humans and their pets.

Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous systems of mammals including man. It is commonly transmitted by infected animals through bite or scratch. Now the department of health is appealing to public to prevent and observe any signs of rabies in animals around them.

Dr. Sarah Johnson, a veterinarian who works for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, urged pet owners to vaccinate their animals against the disease. She said: ‘This should be a reminder of why people should ensure their pets have rabies shots.’ ‘‘Pets which have been vaccinated keep the wildlife away, thus acting as a barrier in passing the deadly disease to humans.’’

The health department is urging people not to interact with wildlife, but particularly wild animals that start acting in a strange way. Rabies symptoms vary in animals but include, aggressive behavior, disorientation, foaming at the mouth, and muscle weakness. If you come across an animal with these symptoms, you need to avoid getting close to it, and you should call animal control services.

Due to this incident, social actors in that region have adopted measures of increasing surveillance of wild animals. Animal control officers will be increasing surveillance operations and investigate any unusual activities with animals.

People are also being advised to make necessary changes that may deter wildlife from making their premises their home. This includes locking all/tying all garbage bins, withdrawing feed for pets, and blocking all points of access to a house and other structures.

The next free rabies clinic for pets will be held at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department next month. This project ought to help promote mass vaccination of animals in the community in a bid to control the spread of rabies among them.

Local schools are doing what they can to help in the campaign to increase awareness about rabies. The health department will be going around the elementary schools in the coming weeks to educate children on rabies and lectures children on how to approach animals.

What was considered to be an extremely rare disease in urban settings has once again reared its ugly head, and citizens must not let their guards down and must be more careful. This ailment is potentially lethal if not treated in good time; however, with appropriate medical attention after possible exposure, the person’s life can be saved.

If you or your pet think that it has been exposed to a rabid animal, it is time to visit a healthcare provider. The treatment of afflicted humans entails administering a number of vaccines, and animals include quarantine and close observation for signs of the virus.

Lexington people have woken up to this health concern and are coming together to address the issue. It is now possible to vaccinate your pet for rabies for a relatively low price at local clinics, and community associations are promoting rabies prevention.

The investigation on the infected skunk is still underway, and people are advised to keep abreast with any developments in the matter and report any strange behaviors exhibited by wildlife. Therefore, with effort, cooperation, and adherence to measures that reduce the spread and risks associated with this disease, Lexington is in a position to handle this potential health risk to both the human and animal populations within the city.

The Health Department has established a telephone number for those residents who have issues to ask or something they feel they need to report with regard to rabies. They also have a plan to conduct a sequence of public gatherings to give out more details about the program and respond to complaints from the public.

There is the need to ensure that the general public recognises the fact that wild animals are present in urban cities hence the potentials of being infected by the zoonotic diseases. Thus, people of Lexington can carry on sharing their environment with such animals and avoid getting the illnesses as well, with the help of proper educating and certain prevention measures.

In the course of the event, local government agencies will continue to patrol the affected region as well as keep residents informed. At this time, residents are urged not to panic but to avoid contact with animals that may or may not have the disease and this serves as a good time for residents to conduct their own rabies protocol.