The great outdoors is a wonderful place, Ideally, it’s filled with pleasant experiences and happy memories whether you’re hunting, fishing, hiking, camping or just relaxing on the back porch.
However, on occasion, there are things “out there” that can cause problems. While some may be just minor irritations, others may be more severe or potentially life threatening.
Animal-borne diseases are a safety concern no matter where you live. Some may think only those who live in the country face risks and if you stay close to home you really don’t have much to fear, although fear is a strong word. Awareness may be a better choice, and those venturing outdoors for any reason should be aware of potential problems and pre-plan if possible.
West Nile Virus
In the news in recent years is West Nile Virus. This disease is carried by mosquitoes and passed to humans through a mosquito bite. Not all species of mosquitoes carry the disease, nor do most mosquitoes have it. Some cities may have a monitoring program to check for the prevalence of the disease in mosquito populations.
Symptoms of WNV can occur from just a couple days to two weeks after an infected bite. However, most people who are infected with mosquito-borne viruses do not become ill or have any symptoms.
Mosquito-proof your yard by eliminating standing water in buckets, kids’ toys, dog dishes, etc. Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in water and they hatch in just a few days. Wear appropriate clothing and use insect repellent, even in your own backyard. Try to avoid early morning or dusk activities, if possible, as these are when mosquitoes are most active.
Rabies is likely one of the most noted animal-borne diseases familiar to people. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. Humans are infected, oftentimes through a bite, from rabid animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes or bats. Bats and skunks are likely the two most common carriers of rabies.
Be sure to keep your cats’ and dogs’ rabies vaccination up to date and don’t allow them to roam free. Do not handle wild animals, and if you find a dead one use a shovel to pick it up, place it in a trash bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash container.
Some people mistakenly assume a wild animal like a skunk or raccoon seen during the day is likely rabid. That’s not true but if an animal is acting lethargic, strange or has no fear of humans that’s reason to suspect something isn’t quite right. Regardless, all wildlife should be left alone and never handled.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease
These diseases are transmitted to humans from the bite of a tick. Ticks can transmit the disease at any time of year, but are usually only active during the warmer months of spring, summer and fall.
Prevention for either is the same when going out into areas of woodlands or riparian habitat, such as those along creeks or rivers. Wear light-colored clothing. Tuck pants into the tops of socks and shirts into your pants to eliminate any entry points to bare skin. Use insect repellents containing DEET and be careful to follow application guidelines, particularly with small children. During an outing, or at least once you return home, do a quick tick check looking at your arms, legs and scalp for any embedded ticks. Remove all ticks immediately (ticks must be attached for some time to transmit disease) and wash hands and apply an antiseptic to the affected bite area.
This is a bacterial disease associated with animal species like rodents, rabbits, hares and beavers. Humans can contract tularemia via these animals, or through the bite of an infected insect (usually a tick or deerfly). It can also be transmitted by handling infected animal carcasses, consuming contaminated food or water, or by inhaling the bacteria. Peak times for this disease occur during the warmer months.
It’s best not to handle sick or dead animals and instruct children to leave all wildlife alone. Wear rubber gloves when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits. Thoroughly cook meat from this and most other species of wild game. Use insect repellent with DEET and conduct frequent tick checks. Avoid drinking untreated water, such as that from creeks, reservoirs or rivers.
These are just a few of the many animal-borne diseases that can affect humans and by no means a complete list, nor description. Unfortunately, many of the animal-borne diseases have symptoms that resemble those of the flu or severe colds, such as high fever, tiredness, muscle and headaches, nausea and vomiting. It’s important to inform your health care provider that you’ve been outside, exposed to a particular animal or situation and let them know the sickness could be something more than just the flu. While some animal-borne diseases aren’t directly treatable, others can be, so prompt action is necessary to prevent problems.
There’s no reason to fear the outdoors, but a little education and preparedness ahead of time could save you or a family member from getting sick. By planning and knowing about the potential issues, you can make your outdoor trip a memorable one for all the right reasons.
For more information about animal-borne diseases such as these and others, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.