TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said there’s a sharp increase in the number of rabies cases in the state. State public health veterinarian Ingrid Garrison said the number of confirmed animal rabies has jumped to 13 since the first of the year. Most of the cases involved wild animals but includes two horses, two cows and one cat, she said. None of the domestic animals were vaccinated against rabies. She saids people understand the importance of vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies but often forget about vaccinating horses. Although vaccinating cattle and sheep isn’t practical, she saids she encourages vaccination of valuable breeding stock and show animals. It’s rare for rabies to be transmitted to humans but the disease is fatal without prompt post-exposure rabies treatment.
Wednesday, April 4, 8 p.m.
