BALTIMORE, MD (September 18, 2008) – “You Can Prevent Rabies” is the theme of a statewide poster contest sponsored by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, health department officials announced today.  

The contest is open to all Maryland students in grades 5 - 8 and provides them with a chance to learn more about rabies and to compete for prizes, including tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and the Maryland Science Center.   Entries are due on October 24 and winners will be announced on November 14. 

The contest is designed to draw attention to the September 28 recognition of World Rabies Day, an annual event that raises global awareness of rabies and prevention measures. The day provides an opportunity to promote rabies and animal bite prevention through community engagement by individuals and organizations across the globe. 

In conjunction with the world recognition, Governor Martin O’Malley has proclaimed September as Rabies Prevention Month to remind the state’s residents of the importance of rabies prevention and control. 

In Maryland over 400 animals are diagnosed with rabies each year; most common are raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, and cats. Animals with rabies often show changes in behavior: wild animals may act friendly, domestic animals may become aggressive, and animals that are active only at night may appear during the day. Rabid animals may stagger, drool, or become paralyzed.  

The last human case of rabies in Maryland occurred in 1976, despite hundreds of exposures to rabid animals each year.  These exposures resulted in nearly 1,000 Maryland residents who receive treatment to prevent the disease. 

To avoid the need for rabies treatment: