Rabies Present in Mesa County

There were a total of 88 confirmed rabies infections in 2016 in Colorado. Rabies continues to be present in Mesa County in 2017.

Rabies has been found in animals such as bats, skunks, coyotes, foxes and dogs in Colorado in 2017. 141 animals have tested positive for rabies this year in Colorado. The two primary rabies carriers in Colorado are bats and skunks.

Two bats tested positive for rabies in the last three weeks in Mesa County, according to Mesa County Public Health officials. Summertime is usually the season when the most infections occur. Rabies is commonly spread by being bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Some things to look out for if you think you've been infected:

• Burning/prickling at the bite/scratch site
• Fever
• Weakness
• Headache

Immediately after the bite or scratch, wash the wound with soap and water to avoid infection and find a doctor right away. Rabies is a preventable disease and is a medical urgency, not emergency and decisions should not be delayed, according to the Center for Disease Control and Preventions.