DAYTONA BEACH – The Volusia County Health Department promotes rabies prevention awareness and education by celebrating the second annual World Rabies Day on September 28, 2008.

This year’s theme is “Working Together to Make Rabies Control History!” World Rabies Day serves as a global rabies awareness campaign spearheaded by the United Kingdom charity Alliance for Rabies Control and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“World Rabies Day offers all of us a unique opportunity to increase the awareness of one of the most deadly diseases known to humans, a disease that is completely preventable,” said Paul Minshew, Environmental Manager at the Volusia County Health Department. “Rabies prevention starts with the animal owner. The single most important action you can take to avoid rabies exposure is to vaccinate your pet.”

Bites from mammals infected with the rabies virus spread the disease. Despite being 100 percent preventable, about 55,000 people die worldwide from rabies each year, about one person every 10 minutes. In Florida last year, 112 rabid wildlife exposed people and their pets to rabies. Sixteen domestic animals were infected with the virus, including 14 cats, one horse and one dog.

Because of good pet vaccination programs, rabies is an uncommon human disease in the U.S. However, rabies is present in many wild animals in Florida, mainly in raccoons. People should avoid handling wildlife and make sure that pets are up to date on their rabies shots. Unvaccinated pets that come into contact with rabid animals are at risk of getting infected and may need to be put to sleep.

Vaccination of all dogs, cats and ferrets is required by law in Florida. Your local veterinarian can give licensed rabies vaccines to horses, cattle and sheep in addition to dogs, cats and ferrets. You should report all suspected rabies exposures to your county health department.

DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people in Florida. Please protect your family and pets. Events are planned statewide to increase awareness about rabies, its prevention and control. For more information about World Rabies Day, visit http://www.MyFloridaEH.com/ or www.worldrabiesday.org.