RABIES, PET STORE DOG - USA (ARIZONA)
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A ProMED-mail post http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail, a program of the International Society for Infectious
Diseases http://www.isid.org
 
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 4, 2002
 
Contact: Michael Murphy, ADHS Public Information:
(602) 542-1001 pager: 591-5581
Dr. Mira Leslie, ADHS Public Health Veterinarian: (602) 230-5917
 
Rabid Dog Identified At Tucson Area Pet Store
 
Officials at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Pima
County Health Department are attempting to identify anyone who had
contact with a rabid dog while visiting a Petsmart Store in Tucson.
 
The dog was part of an adoption fair held at the Petsmart store at
4740 E. Grant Road in Tucson on March 22 and March24, 2002. The dog
tested positive for rabies at the Arizona State Health Laboratory.
 
The dog was a 3 to 4 month old Australian Shepherd mix, predominately
white in color with gray and brown markings, and blue eyes. For more
information or to view a picture of the dog  - visit the Pima County
Health Department's website
http://pimahealth.org/rabiesalert.htm
 
Rabies remains an invariably fatal disease.  However, there are effective
ways to prevent rabies from developing in people who have been exposed.
Your physician or the health department can assist, but it needs to be
done immediately.  We urge anyone who visited the Petsmart store at Grant
and Swan in Tucson on either Friday, March 22nd, OR Sunday, March 24th,
AND had direct contact with the dog in question, to contact the health
department.
 
If you live in Pima County call (520) 740-8959, and if you live anywhere
else call the Arizona Department of Health Services at (602) 364-4500
(Maricopa County) or 1-800 314-9243 (outside Maricopa County)
 
If you were not at this Petsmart, or were at the Petsmart but had no
direct contact of any kind with the dog, then you are at no risk for
rabies from this dog.
 
Mira Leslie <[log in to unmask]>
--
 
cobalt's rule: the smallest gecko will
_always_ grab the biggest cricket.
[Posted in FML issue 3746]