Health Departments Search for People who had Contact with Rabid Puppy

News Release
July 17, 2015

The Texas Department of State Health Services and Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District are searching for anyone who came into contact with a litter of puppies in Henrietta, Texas within the last month. One of the puppies, a shepherd mix, was later found to have rabies.

The puppies were advertised on Craigslist and were located at a home on FM 1197 in Henrietta, near Wichita Falls, beginning in mid-June. Anyone who came into contact with the puppies should contact the DSHS regional office in Arlington at 817-264-4920 or their health care provider to determine whether they should receive treatment.

Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District has located eight of the nine puppies in the litter, but one has not been located. Anyone who suspects they know where that puppy is should contact DSHS at the number above.

Rabies is a viral illness that can be transmitted to humans through an infected animal’s saliva. The illness can be prevented with treatment before symptoms begin. However, once a person has symptoms, the disease is almost always fatal.

More information on the possible exposures is available at http://health.wichitafallstx.gov.

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(News Media Contact: Chris Van Deusen, DSHS Press Officer, 512-776-7753)

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