As if life history is n’t hard enough already : fanatical otters are manifestly a thing . Florida health functionary report this week that a 74 - year - previous man and a dog-iron were burn by an strong-growing otter , one that after screen positive for the usually disastrous viral transmission . Both victim have reportedly receive discourse and the otter has been euthanized .
The Florida Department of Healthreportedthe attack Monday , which occurred last Wednesday in Palm Beach County . The man , since identified as Joseph Scaglione byWPBF News , was reportedly run corn to some ducks near his home when they dead flew away . He then watch the otter by a river bank and began to slowly back up . But before he could make it back home , the otter rush after him and make him to light . The animal then went on the attack for several minutes , sting and scrape up Scaglione ’s leg and arms over 40 metre .
Scaglione did finally manage to discontinue free . But according to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control , the otter came across a class of three and attacked their dog at some point on the same day . Neighborhood resident reportedly then trapped the otter under a recycling bank identification number and he was at last captured by Animal Control . agree to officials , the otter was at a healthy weight but appear to be unusually active at first and then unenrgetic . madness testing can only be done post - mortem , meaning that the otter had to be euthanized , and officials confirmed the otter ’s infection on Saturday .
A North American river otter (Lontra canadensis).Image: Jukka Jantunen (Shutterstock)
Rabiesis one of the scary viral diseases around . The virus invades the nervous system of its mammal host . In most mammals , include man , the infection eventually stimulate nous swelling and frightening neurological symptoms like confusion and aggression , the loss of bodily functions , and a pathologic reverence of H2O . Once these symptoms embark on , survival is almost out of the question .
gratefully , there ’s a rabies vaccinum available for both human beings and domesticated animals , which has help significantly ram down human typeface in many land . While the vaccine is routinely given to positron emission tomography and livestock , it ’s more often used in human race as a safety ( along with specialized antibodies ) to those suspected of being exposed to the virus . So long as this treatment is given too soon enough following exposure , it ’s extremely effective at preventing illness . Rabies is still aproblemin countries where vaccination is n’t widespread , however , and the computer virus continues to circulate in wildlife everywhere . Human rabies cases in the U.S. are very rare , though there was a recent uptickreportedin 2021 .
There have beenother document attacksby potentially rabid otters on man , though these aquatic animals are view an rare master of ceremonies for the computer virus . According to Animal Control official , this is the first lawsuit of otter lyssa report in the state since 2010 .
Joseph Scaglione is receiving handling for potential lyssa , and the wienerwurst was reportedly take to the vet as well . Vaccinated dogs and other petssuspected of rabies exposureare typically vaccinate again and remark under the owner ’s control for 45 sidereal day to insure prevention .
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