Recently, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture detected the first positive case of rabies in a ferret badger in Tongluo Township, Miaoli County on April 30. Since there are currently no topographical barriers north of Miaoli, if there is subsequent rainfall, ferret badgers may move to areas with more stable water sources and food (such as farmland, drainage ditches, or areas around residential houses) in search of food, which could lead to a continued risk of the rabies epidemic spreading northward and increase the chances of contact with humans and pet dogs and cats, thus increasing the risk of infection.

Because rabies is a zoonotic infectious disease with a 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear, we remind everyone to take the following precautions to protect your safety:

(I) Do not abandon pets: Strengthen source management to reduce the number of rabies vectors.

(II) Do not contact wild animals: If you encounter a ferret badger exhibiting abnormal behavior (such as being active during the day, not afraid of people, or actively attacking), or behaving aggressively, please immediately move away and notify the local animal disease control agency.

(III) Regularly vaccinate your pets against rabies: Ensure your pet is properly vaccinated against rabies to build an invisible biological firewall. (If a domestic cat stays indoors and does not go outside, and does not come into contact with other outdoor animals, then vaccination is not necessary.)

(iv) Do not let dogs roam freely and reduce the gathering of wild animals and dogs attracted by food to prevent the spread of rabies caused by human-induced species aggregation.

The Environmental Safety and Health Office reminds you~