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Rabies a threat to deployed mission

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- The Air Force spent countless dollars and numerous lost man-hours in the treatment of 56 civilian contractors at a deployed location whose unit mascot exposed them to rabies.

The situation was entirely preventable and caused a massive drain on mission resources, Air Combat Command officials said.

Not only did this failure to follow the rules put lives at risk, it placed a tremendous burden on the local medical treatment facility, encumbered the theater logistics system, and diverted mission focus, said Col. Ken Hall, ACC Deputy Command Surgeon.

The contractors had adopted a stray dog that later became infected with rabies. It bit a number of people over four days and was eventually quarantined. It died the next day and tested positive for rabies.

General Order 1A is designed to prevent this type of situation from occurring among service members. It prohibits service members from adopting, as pets or mascots, caring for or feeding any type of domestic or wild animals.

While some units in the Area of Operations may have adopted wild and stray animals as unit mascots, this seemingly harmless activity is a potential recipe for disaster, Colonel Hall said.

The human-animal bond is strongest in times of stress, like when youre far from home and potentially in harms way. Ironically, these animals can be far more dangerous than comfortingto the point of loss of lifeand thats why GO-1A exists, Colonel Hall explained.

According to information published by the World Health Organization, most of the 55,000 rabies deaths reported annually occur in Asia and Africa. Exposure to rabid dogs accounts for 99 percent of rabies deaths worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there are aggressive ownership and immunization programs in the United States, similar programs are virtually nonexistent in the AOR, Colonel Hall said.

Anyone who is scratched or bitten by any animal should thoroughly clean the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention as rapidly as possible, the colonel explained.

We can effectively prevent rabies after exposure, but you have to get the treatment, Colonel Hall said.

The treatment for rabies is completed by receiving a series of shots over a 28-day period, but people who fail to seek treatment are at a very high risk. Once the rabies symptoms develop, death is the typical outcome.

Airmen who are deploying to the Southwest Asia AOR must understand the practices prohibited by General Order 1A, Colonel Hall said.

Its really everyones responsibility to know and follow the rules, but leadership is the key, said Colonel Hall. Commanders have to communicate and enforce the General Order the risk is too great.