Welcome to the Wild West Published Sept. 14, 2015 By Senior Airman Bernard Beamon 27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- As many of us prepare for fall and start to travel within New Mexico, it is important to be aware of our surroundings. Rabbits, hares and prairie dogs are endemic to this region. These small animals may be cute and fuzzy, but take caution - they could be hosts to ticks, fleas, and disease. The Cannon Public Health office recommends you to stay away from these animals along with stray dogs, cats and wild rodents. Within northern New Mexico these animals and insects may cause serious illnesses such as plague, Hantavirus, West Nile Virus, rabies, and Tularemia (tu-la-re-mi-a). Plague is a bacteria carried by fleas and rodents, mostly the prairie dog. Tularemia is also bacteria typically found in rabbits after being infected by a tick or deer fly. Hantavirus is a severe respiratory illness that is transmitted by exposure to infected rodents through urine, feces or saliva. West Nile is a virus caused from the bite of an infected mosquito. Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Most of these diseases are transmitted through a break in the skin such as open cuts or wounds. This summer, there has been an increase in reported illnesses of endemic diseases. When preparing for a trip within New Mexico, understand that many of the reported cases are in the counties surrounding Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Tularemia and plague are not commonly diagnosed in Curry or Roosevelt County, but that does not mean the disease is not out there. Plague and Tularemia symptoms usually develop 3-5 days after exposure, but vary from 1-14 days. These symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches and joint pain. Plague victims also experience painful swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit and neck areas. Hantavirus symptoms begin to appear within several weeks with similar symptoms as plague and tularemia. Rabies, in the early stages of symptoms, can consist of fever, headache and malaise. If left untreated, rabies can affect the central nervous system and those infected begin to show signs of confusion, slight paralysis, excitation, hyper salivation and fear of water. Here are some recommendations to avoid exposure and limit contact: •Wear gloves while gardening or landscaping and avoid doing this while barefoot. •Avoid mowing over dead animals when cutting grass, this could cause bacteria to become airborne. •Dispose of animal carcasses using a long-handled shovel; discard in trash using a double bag or burying 2-3 feet deep. •Wear an insect repellant effective against ticks, biting flies and mosquitos when hiking, camping or outdoors. •Prevent pets from hunting or eating wild animals. Contact local vet if pet becomes ill with high fever or swollen lymph nodes. •Wear protective gear such as loose fitting clothing, long sleeves shirts, long pants and socks. •Eliminate water holding containers where mosquitos breed like old-tires, bird baths and pet water dishes. Enjoy your travels within New Mexico, but be aware of your surroundings. If you see an animal that is wild or a stray, stay clear of it. Additionally, be mindful of where you step and report to a medical treatment facility if you are bitten by a wild animal or become ill. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call the Cannon Public Health office at 575-784-4926.