Rabid skunk prompts vaccination push; Board plans low-cost clinic for pets.Byline: Linda Bock Noun 1. bock - a very strong lager traditionally brewed in the fall and aged through the winter for consumption in the spring bock beer lager beer, lager - a general term for beer made with bottom fermenting yeast (usually by decoction mashing); originally NORTHBRIDGE - Another skunk skunk, name for several related New World mammals of the weasel family, characterized by their conspicuous black and white markings and use of a strong, highly offensive odor for defense. in town has tested positive for rabies rabies (rā`bēz, ră`–) or hydrophobia (hī'drəfō`bēə), acute viral infection of the central nervous system in dogs, foxes, raccoons, skunks, bats, and other animals, and in , and health official Jeanne M. Gniadek hopes residents protect their cats and dogs Cats and Dogs A slang term referring to speculative stocks that have short or suspicious histories for sales, earnings, dividends, etc. Notes: In a bull market analysts will often mention that everything is going up, even the cats and dogs. by having them vaccinated. The Board of Health will hold a low-cost clinic April 5 to make it convenient. "We're really trying to make people aware of the risk of not getting their pets vaccinated," Ms. Gniadek said. "If you get rabies, there's no miracle cure." An aggressive skunk wandered into a backyard on Sullivan Drive in an area off North Main Street on Jan. 8 and attacked a family pet. The animal control officer was able to capture the skunk, which was euthanized. It was not the only incident of a rabid skunk in town. There were similar cases Sept. 7 near Fletcher Street, and on Aug. 7. The skunk was captured and euthanized, and tested positive for rabies. The dog had to be quarantined. Rabies is a fatal disease that is caused by a virus. The rabies virus rabies virus n. A rather large, bullet-shaped virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes rabies. is present predominantly in the saliva and nervous tissue (brain and nerve cells) of infected animals and is transmitted most often by a bite. Rabies causes an inflammation of the brain and is fatal once symptoms develop, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the state Department of Public Health. "So for example, if a human has contact with a pet that has had an encounter with a skunk, there could be saliva on the pet that could get into an open wound on the person," Ms. Gniadek said. "I would really encourage residents to wear protective gloves if their pet may have been exposed." If a skunk is found to carry the rabies virus and a family pet that has encountered the skunk is not vaccinated against the disease, the pet must be quarantined. Skunks have been spotted in several neighborhoods in town, even though it is still winter. "It would be really wonderful to see a great turnout at the rabies clinic this year," Ms. Gniadek said. "And we'll have little goodie good·ie n. Variant of goody1. bags for the pets. Plus, the rabies vaccine rabies vaccine n. 1. A vaccine introduced by Pasteur as a method of treatment for the bite of a rabid animal, consisting of 23 daily injections of virus that are increased serially from noninfective doses to doses containing fully infective is just $12 - how can you go wrong?" The Board of Health will hold a rabies vaccination clinic from noon to 2 p.m. April 5 at the Whitinsville Fire Station, 93 Main St. Cats should be brought in a carrier between noon and 1 p.m., and dogs should be brought on a leash from 1 to 2 p.m. Pet owners should also bring prior vaccination certificates. For more information, contact Ms. Gniadek at the Board of Health office. NAME: NORTHBRIDGE BOARD OF HEALTH |
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