Helena, Mont. – On Wednesday April 24, 2024, Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) received confirmation of a rabid cow in Powder River County. The rabies-infected cow was tested after displaying neurological symptoms.
Three people were exposed to the cow while administering treatment. The last documented cases of terrestrial (non-bat) rabies in Powder River County was in June 2022.
This animal is the first confirmed case of rabies in Montana in 2024 and serves as an important reminder to keep pets currently vaccinated for rabies. Montana sees one to two dozen cases of rabies per year, primarily in bats and skunks. Vaccination is a critical tool to prevent spillover to our domestic animal populations and minimize the risk of human exposure.
“Rabies vaccines not only protect the health of an individual animal, they also protect the health of the animal owners and other pets from this fatal disease,” says Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, Montana State Veterinarian. “Vaccination is a low-cost, safe, and effective tool that we strongly encourage pet owners to pursue.”
In response to the confirmation of rabies in Powder River County, MDOL has issued a 60 day county-wide quarantine for Powder River County. Non-vaccinated or not currently vaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets in Powder River County are quarantined within the county for a period of not less than sixty (60) days from the date of the last known terrestrial rabies (MCA Title 81, Chapters 2 and 20).
Any dog, cat or ferret in that has been properly immunized against rabies for the first time, may be released from the quarantine area after a period of twenty-eight (28) days from the date of vaccination.
Any dog, cat, or ferret that is past-due on the rabies vaccine, may be immediately released from the quarantine area as soon as receiving a booster vaccine.
Quarantine release is scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, 2024. Additional cases of terrestrial (non-bat) rabies cases within the county may extend the duration of the quarantine. Written notification from MDOL will be provided when the quarantine is released.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can spread through the saliva of an infected animal. The virus can infect any mammal, including people. However, it is virtually 100% preventable in domestic animals through the administration of rabies vaccine. Rabies vaccines are available for domestic pets as well as multiple livestock species.
Residents should report any contact between a pet and a wild animal, including skunks and bats, to their veterinarian or MDOL to ensure potential rabies exposures are assessed for risk and managed accordingly.
The mission of MDOL is to control and eradicate animal diseases, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from theft and predatory animals. For more information on MDOL, visit http://www.livmt. gov.
We spoke to Dr. Szymanski via email, who noted that the infected cow was euthanized in order to test for rabies, as the brain must be submitted to a lab. The delay between the exposure and release of information was due to the time involved with submittal of testing to the CDC and confirmation of a positive test. We also reached out to Public Health about the treatment of the individuals exposed to the cow, but did not hear back by press time. According to the CDC, treatment for affected humans may consist of a dose of human rabies immune globulin, and rabies vaccine given in several doses.
Dr. Szymanski also clarified the rabies protocol for vaccinated pets, indicating that animals that are up date on vaccines are able to be transported without delay.
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