DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES (DHSS) ALERTS MISSOURIANS TO
RABIES IN A TUCSON, ARIZONA DOG

For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2002

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Contact: Dr. Howard Pue 573/751-6495; or Brian Quinn, Public Information Administrator 573/751-6079

A three-month-old dog (Australian Shepherd mix) in Tucson, Arizona, tested positive for rabies on April 2nd. The potential for human exposures is considerable as this puppy spent two days in the adoption center of a Tuscon Petsmart store. The dog was not caged during most of its time in the store and the public had easy access to the animal. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is alerting Missourians to the situation, as Tucson is a winter vacation destination, particularly in March for baseball fans attending spring training games.

Individuals who handled animals in the Petsmart store at 4740 Grant Road (Grant and Swan Road intersection) in Tuscon between 10 am and 5 pm on March 22 or March 24 should call their local health department and contact their medical provider immediately for evaluation and possible preventative treatment. A photo of the dog is available at the DHSS website http://dhss.state.mo.us/NewsReleases/rabies.jpg to assist in assessing exposures.

A local animal rescue group that was participating in the adoption days at the Petsmart store owned the dog, which was euthanized on March 29.

People become infected with rabies when the skin is broken by a bite or scratch from a rabid animal or a mucosal surface (e.g., eye, mouth) is
contaminated with the salvia of a rabid animal. Rabies is almost invariably fatal. Therefore, if exposure occurs, prevention becomes paramount by administering rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine.


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