Lewis County Public Health Agency

Preventive Services Children with Special Needs Cancer Services

7785 North State Street,
Lowville, New York 13367-1229
Telephone: (315) 376-5453 Fax: (315) 376-7013

www.lewiscountypublichealth.com
Penny A. Ingham, MPH Public Health Director

PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2015
Contact: Penny Ingham
Public Health Director
315-376-5453
pingham@lcpublichealth.org
On January 20, 2015, Lewis County Public Health was notified by the New York State Department of
Health that a skunk from the Town of Martinsburg had tested positive for rabies. One unvaccinated cow
and its calf were observed to have direct contact with the skunk and were euthanized. Four additional
cows and four calves were in close proximity to the skunk and have been placed on a 6-month
quarantine.
All species of livestock are susceptible to rabies with cattle and horses being the most frequently
reported. Livestock that are placed on a 6-month quarantine may not have contact with the remainder of
the herd and cannot be sent to sale. Historically, federal guidelines for meat inspectors required that any
animal known to have been exposed to rabies within 8 months be rejected for slaughter.
However, milk, if pasteurized, may be sold for consumption.
Lewis County Public Health encourages all livestock owners to contact their veterinarians and discuss
the benefits of having their cattle and other livestock vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccination of
livestock is not required by New York State law.
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to
man and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. People can get rabies if they are exposed to the
saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal through a bite or scratch. Exposure can also occur if infected
saliva or nervous tissue gets into a fresh wound or in mucous membranes. Fortunately, only a few
human cases are reported each year in the United States. There have been no human cases of rabies in
Lewis County.
Lewis County Public Health encourages the public to be aware of the risks of rabies exposure to
themselves, their family members and their pets and to take the precautions necessary to limit exposure
to this deadly disease. A free rabies clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets 3 months of age and older will
be held Saturday, January 24th from 9-11 a.m. at Maple Ridge Center, East Road, Lowville. To
report a bite or contact with an animal suspected of having rabies, or for additional information, call
Lewis County Public Health at 376-5453.

Lewis County Public Health Agency

Preventive Services Children with Special Needs Cancer Services
7785 North State Street,
Lowville, New York 13367-1229
Telephone: (315) 376-5453 Fax: (315) 376-7013

www.lewiscountypublichealth.com
Penny A. Ingham, MPH Public Health Director