World Rabies Day Safety Tips From a Personal Injury Lawyer
September 28, 2022 marks the 15th annual World Rabies Day. Health organizations and animal rights groups use the event to educate people on the disease and how to avoid it. Groups like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Organization for Animal Health (formerly OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hope to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. Until then, the dog bite lawyers from Patterson Legal Group offer the following safety tips.
What Is Rabies and How Do People Catch It?
According to the CDC, Rabies is a viral disease that is typically transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Although much less common, it can be transmitted through scratching or if the bodily fluid of an infected animal comes into contact with exposed skin.
Mild symptoms of rabies include inflammation and pain in the infected area. However, the virus can cause major damage to a person’s neurological system and even cause death. Some of the more severe effects of rabies include:
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Paralysis
- Encephalitis
- Other Types of Brain Damage
The CDC claims that approximately 59,000 people die every year because of rabies, which is especially tragic considering that the disease is 100% preventable. Furthermore, some rabies victims don’t know that they’re infected until months after they’ve been bitten.
If you’ve been bitten by another person’s pet then contact an animal attack lawyer from Patterson Legal Group. Our team of experienced legal professionals can put you in touch with rabies specialists that can monitor your health properly as they build a case designed to win you the highest settlement possible.
World Rabies Day Tips for Dog Owners
Dog owners play an important role in reducing rabies infections. Fortunately, there are many simple things that you can do that will greatly lower the chances of your pet spreading rabies. This includes:
- Regular rabies vaccination for your pet
- Making sure that you obey local and state leash laws
- Keeping your pet away from wild animals that can spread rabies, such as coyotes, raccoons, and bats
- Calling animal control immediately if you see any stray animals
- Never approaching a wild animal with your pet
World Rabies Day Tips for Everyone
If you’re not a pet owner, but know you’ll be in a situation where you’ll be around animals then Patterson Legal Group’s dog bite attorneys recommend:
- Getting vaccinated for rabies if you’re going to a place with plenty of animals or are visiting someone with many animals
- Getting vaccinated if you’re traveling to a country with many stray animals
- Washing bites or scratches received from an animal immediately and thoroughly
- Seeking medical attention immediately if you’ve been attacked by an animal and it has broken your skin
- Never approaching a wild animal
Contact Patterson Legal Group
The personal injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group hope that you’ve learned more about rabies from this blog or it has reinforced your knowledge. Please share it with your friends and family so that we can all use World Rabies Day to spread awareness of this disease.
If you or someone in your family has been bitten by another person’s dog then contact us for immediate assistance. You can reach our team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at cta type=”text” layout=”call”] or online through LiveChat and secure contact form.
Remember, Patterson Legal Group has more than 75 years of combined experience successfully representing injury victims in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Our lawyers work on a “no win, no fee” basis, so you don’t pay a dime unless money has been won on your behalf. For top-notch legal representation coupled with unmatched customer service, Patterson Legal Group is the choice for you.
