Rabies Confirmed in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, Horse

The horse was hospitalized and later euthanized.
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The Arizona Department of Agriculture confirmed April 18 that a domestic horse residing in the Nogales area of Santa Cruz County tested positive for rabies. The horse was hospitalized but did not respond to treatment and was later euthanized.

"While rabies among domestic animals is extremely rare with this being the first case in almost seven years, we are reminded of the importance of keeping our animals’ vaccinations current,” said Susan Gale, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVPM, Arizona’s acting state veterinarian. “The rabies vaccination protects our pets from this infectious disease and vaccinating pets protects people.”

Rabies—a zoonotic disease that can be spread from animals to humans—is caused by a lyssavirus that affects the neurologic system and salivary glands. Horses are exposed most commonly through the bite of another rabid animal.

In horses rabies’ clinical signs are variable and can take up to 12 weeks to appear after the initial infection. Although affected horses are sometimes asymptomatic, an infected horse can show behavioral changes such as drowsiness, depression, fear, or aggression. Once clinical signs appear, there are no treatment options

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