• PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota animal rabies cases were up in 2012, climbing for the second straight year, according to the yearly surveillance report by the state Department of Health. There were 60 animal rabies cases last year, up from 40 in 2011. 
• While animals rabies is reported every year, the disease tends to be cyclical, with years of high case numbers followed by years with lower numbers, noted Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist for the Department of Health. "Rabies is a risk every year in South Dakota and that risk is statewide," he said. "Rabies vaccination is readily available, inexpensive and important to protect your pets and the people around them."
• There were rabies detections in 29 South Dakota counties in 2012. Those rabies positives included 21 domestic animals - 16 cattle, three horses, two cats - as well as 36 skunks and three bats. South Dakota's last human rabies case was reported in 1970. 
• The 16 rabid cattle in 2012 was the highest number of cases in 15 years for South Dakota and higher than any other state. 
• Beef and dairy cattle are usually exposed to rabies through bites from skunks; people, in turn, can be exposed by contact with the cattle saliva.
• Dr. Russ Daly, State Public Health Veterinarian, noted that signs of rabies in cattle can be very vague and may start as subtle behavior changes and progress to

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