Vectors,
Living Environments, and Other Programs
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Animal
Bites |
The
Skagit County Health Department receives reports of animal bites
in order to evaluate an individual's risk of exposure to the rabies
virus. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous
system of mammals.Although now a rare disease in the
US, once symptoms appear it is nearly always fatal in humans.
Any mammal can transmit rabies, but the main reservoir
in Washington State is BATS. Any animal bite should be cleaned with soap and water and
evaluated by a health care professional.
If
you find an injured bat, handle with gloves. Call us for more information or check the links below!
Do
you need to report an animal bite? Download the Bite Report Form
Links
For information about rabies: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
For
information about bats, including how to remove them from
your home: www.batcon.org or www.batsnothwest.org
For animal control issues: Contact
your local animal control officer (through municipal police departments)
or the Skagit Humane Society 360-757-0445.
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Animals
in Public Settings |
Each year county
or state fairs, petting zoos, animal swap meets, pet stores, feed
stores, and many other venues encourage and permit the public to
be in contact with animals, resulting in millions of human-animal
interactions each year. Human-animal contact has many benefits as
well as risks such as infectious diseases, exposure to rabies, and
injuries. Infectious disease outbreaks have been caused by Escherichia
coli O157:H7, Salmonella species, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ringworm,
and many other pathogens. Such outbreaks have substantial medical,
public health, legal, and economic effects.
Effective strategies
to minimize risk of disease transmission include providing hand
wash areas, separating food service and eating areas from animal
display areas and providing information about diseases and animal
care.
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Indoor
Air Quality and Mold |
Indoor
air quality can have a significant impact on the health of you and
your family. Pollutants such as cigarette or wood smoke, dust, mold,
and chemical vapors can lead to increased risk of acute and chronic
disease. Northwest Clean Air Agency is an excellent resource for questions
about indoor air quality. They also provide many tools on line at
their website.
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Landlord
and Tenant Rights and Responsibilities |
Washington's
Residential Landlord-Tenant Act defines the minimum responsibilities
of landlords and tenants of residential dwellings. These laws also
impose certain restrictions and provide remedies if one party fails
to carry out a duty. The remedies for landlords include eviction.
For tenants the rent must be up-to-date until remedies can be applied.
These include reduced rent and self-help repairs. For both parties
the remedies include the right to sue for money damages, and an
award of attorneys' fees to the successful party. The provisions
of the act usually may not be waived by the landlord or tenant.
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Mosquitoes,
Ticks, and Bedbugs |
Mosquitoes and
ticks are blood-feeding parasites that can spread disease to humans.
Both are generally problems in warm, dry weather. You may avoid
mosquitoes by staying indoors, wearing repellent or long sleeves
and pants in the morning and evening. Ticks generally live in tall
grasses and brushy areas or may be associated with rodents.
Bedbugs are
also blood-feeding parasites but are not known to cause disease
in humans. If you suspect that bedbugs have infested your home,
please contact a licensed pest control company. More information
is available in the link below.
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Rats
and Mice |
Rats and mice
can spread disease. These diseases can be spread directly to humans
through handling, contact with feces, urine, or saliva, and through
bite wounds. People can also get diseases from ticks, mites, and
fleas that have fed on an infected rodent. The best way to prevent
rodent infestation is to remove food sources and shelter, which
may include accumulated garbage.
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