WII jLIFE rabies - 1969-1970 



RABIES IN MONTANA 



During the past two years, there were five cases of skunk 

 rabies, four cases of bat rabies, and one case of rabies in a 

 domestic cat. 



Skunk rabies was still active in the northeastern corner of 

 the state, with Daniels and Roosevelt Counties reporting the five 

 skunk rabies cases in 1959, and no cases were reported during 1970, 



Bat rabies cases were reported from Sheridan, Missoula, Lake, 

 and Ravalli Counties. It is interesting to note three of the 

 bats were diagnosed at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton, 

 Montana, One specimen in particular was collected September 20, 

 1968 and was retained alive at the laboratory and developed the 

 disease some eight months later, on April 16, 1969. 



The cat was a domestic pet at a residence, Opheim Air Force 

 Station, Valley County. Many children and adults were exposed 

 and were required to take the anti-rabies immunization treatment. 



During 1970, only the two cases of rabies were reported - 

 the least since 1964 when the epizootic started. 



Rabies in wildlife species continued to spread and increase 

 in neighboring states and provinces. North Dakota reported a 

 total of seventy-nine cases, with forty-seven cases in skunks, 

 one fox, two raccoons, one dog twelve cats, and fifteen cattle. 

 South Dakota reported fifty-three cases, with twenty-eight 

 skunks, two raccoons, one bat, five dogs, eight cats, and nine 

 cattle. 



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