Penza, 2 September 2014. PenzaNews. Epidemic animal rabies situation escalated dramatically in the Penza region in August and September 2014, said the press service of the regional veterinary administration.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

“6 cats, 11 dogs and 23 foxes had rabies, according to the lab tests. Infections were registered in Bekovsky, Bessonovsky, Gorodishchensky, Kamensky, Kameshkirsky, Kolyshleysky, Kuznetsky, Luninsky, Maloserdobinsky, Mokshansky, Narovchatsky, Neverkinsky, Nizhnelomovsky, Nikolsky, Pachelmsky, Penzensky, Shemysheysky areas and in Penza city,” the press service told news agency “PenzaNews.”

The department expressed the concern over the increasing number of rabies in stray dogs and cats, as well as relatively active “fox siege” of the regional settlements, which is typical for the autumn-winter season.

“In the past few years, animal rabies epidemic has become more urban, which increases the risk of people being infected with this deadly disease. For your info, last year, 3 443 people bitten by animals were admitted into hospitals,” the press service noted.

The department noted that due to the unfavorable situation in the Penza region, urgent measures are being taken, including additional measures on vaccination of animals against rabies in farms of all types of ownership, as well as censuring of domestic and stray cats and dogs.

“It is important to learn the personal preventive measures against rabies, as well as contact district and city animal disease stations, the veterinary department of the Penza region and the regional department of Rospotrebnadzor on all cases of strange behavior or deaths of animals, and of any contacts of people with the infected pets,” the press service stressed.