Horse Show Attendees Alerted to Rabies outbreak
Pastor Dale Morgan
Horse Show Attendees Alerted to Rabies outbreak*
Tuesday September 12, 2006 7:16 PM
By KRISTIN M. HALL
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's Department of Health has alerted
about 4,200 people who attended a horse show several weeks ago that
animals had tested positive for rabies, but an official said it is
unlikely the disease spread during the show.
John Dunn, a medical epidemiologist, said Tuesday letters were sent out
Monday to attendees in 34 states, Canada and Germany.
The letters say horses from Missouri became ill during the Tennessee
Walking Horse National Celebration held in Shelbyville from Aug.
23-Sept. 2, and could have spread the disease to people or other horses.
However, the chance of rabies spreading to people or other horses is
rare, Dunn said.
``Rabies can only be contracted through the bite of an infected
animal,'' Dunn said. ``There is also a small potential for contraction
through a large amount of saliva in a fresh open wound, or in contact
with the nose, eyes, or mouth.''
The letter asks that people contact the department if they believe they
had direct contact with the infected horses.
The horse's owners first noticed the animals were ill on Aug. 28 while
at the show about 50 miles south of Nashville. They were later
euthanized. Dunn said the type of rabies found in the horse was commonly
spread through bats and health officials believe the horses were bitten
in Missouri.