Moose in Alaska Tests Positive For Rabies, Marking the First Case of Its Kind in the State

The first rabid moose case in Alaska was confirmed as scientists looked into the creature's brain and found rabies variants typically present in Arctic foxes.

Stumbling and Drooling Moose

According to Live Science, the case was confirmed after the sick moose stumbled into a small community and drooled profusely while charging at residents. It was then euthanized shortly after wandering in Teller.

The Department of Fish and Game in Alaska explains in a statement that the creature was stumbling and unbalanced and that it was drooling profusely. The creature also had bare patches covering its skin. The creature was also quite aggressive towards people.

The USA Today reports that the staff from the department consulted with Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen, the wildlife veterinarian of the department, and then gathered samples from the creature. These samples were then sent for further analysis, while the body of the creature was burned for precautionary purposes.

First Rabid Moose Case in Alaska

Necropsy results revealed that rabies was present in the animal's brain. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the animal had the rabies variant that is typically present in Arctic foxes. This suggests that the moose may have gotten the virus from a fox.

This case marks the first confirmed rabid moose case in the state. While such a diagnosis in a moose is quite rare, there have been earlier moose cases in Canada, Minnesota, Russia, and South Dakota. In Alaska, specifically, only moose that exhibit neurological symptoms undergo rabies screening.

This new case confirmation has spurred officials at the Fish and Game Department to ramp up surveillance for rabies. They plan to do so by testing brain samples of all euthanized and dead mammals found in regions that are known to have enzootic fox rabies.

USA Today advises that people who spot dead mammals or find one exhibiting signs of rabies should not go near the animal or carcass.

Rabies

The rabies virus typically spreads through saliva and could infect all mammals that are warm-blooded. According to the CDC, the condition is preventable and is usually transmitted via a rabid animal's bite.

Rabid creatures tend to drool excessively, have foam in their mouths, and become aggressive. They also exhibit abnormal behavior, such as chewing on rocks or other items that are not food.

The virus affects the creature's central nervous system and ultimately leads to brain disease and death.

Based on the rabies case reports received, the disease tends to occur among wild creatures like foxes, skunks, bats, and raccoons. However, any mammal can get infected with rabies.

Among people, there are only one to three cases that get reported annually.

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