What to do if bitten by an animal

LUBBOCK, Texas, June 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. animal health expert says active rabies is occurring in some parts of the country so it is important to take precautions around wildlife.

"The treatment for rabies is expensive and long," Ronald Warner of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbuck says in a statement. "Once a patient receiving treatment is given Rabies Immune Globulin Human, a series of five shots is administered. Once a person is diagnosed with rabies, the virus is almost always fatal."

If bitten or scratched by a wild animal, Warner suggests to:

-- Wash the wounds thoroughly with plenty of soap and water and consult a physician as soon as possible.

-- Secure the animal for observation, or testing if possible.

-- If an animal is killed, get it processed for shipment as soon as possible to reduce the chances of a "decomposed" test result.

-- To reduce the chance of a "destroyed" test result, do not damage the animal's brain.

However, if an animal cannot be captured, but it remains in the area and can be observed for a 10-day period, this is an acceptable alternative to treatment, Warner says.