The veterinarian urged not to touch hedgehogs and squirrels in parks
Veterinarian Evgeny Tsyplenkov warned that all warm-blooded animals can become infected with rabies, and hedgehogs are among the natural carriers of the virus.
In an interview with Radio 1 on Thursday, July 23, he said that young hedgehogs are now actively exploring new territories, so they are increasingly found in parks, forests and suburban areas. By itself, the appearance of a hedgehog next to a person is not dangerous, but any wild animal with unusual behavior requires caution. According to him, rabies is transmitted through saliva when bitten, and a prick with hedgehog needles carries almost no risk of infection, since the animal does not lick its needles. It is much more dangerous if a wild animal comes up to people and bites them.
The expert also urged not to try to rescue lonely hedgehogs or squirrels. He explained that young animals usually just explore the territory and do not need human help, and interference can be dangerous for both humans and the animals themselves.
If a wild animal does bite a human, the veterinarian recommended that you see a doctor immediately. He explained that timely rabies vaccination allows the body to develop immunity before the virus begins to spread. The specialist reminded that when encountering wild animals, you should not approach those that are not afraid of people or behave aggressively.
Doctors earlier in July told about the danger of rabies. They urged to consult a doctor after contact with bats.
In May, Andrey Rudenko, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, professor of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Russian Biotechnological University, warned RT about the danger of contact with hedgehogs. Normally, hedgehogs are careful, avoid people and are active mainly in the evening and at night, writes 360.ru .
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