Loose dog with rabies-like symptoms reported in Gambell

Gambell residents have been told to look out for animals acting strangely after a loose dog showed possible rabies symptoms earlier this month.

Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Office of Environmental Health received a report about a dog biting someone in Gambell. The incident occurred around Dec. 1, but the Gambell clinic and NSHC didn’t hear about it until late last week.

The dog involved had been loose and was reported to be acting strangely with clear white bubbly slime foaming at its mouth, said Alicia Reitz, an environmental health specialist at NSHC.

“That was an immediate red flag,” said Reitz.

Rabies symptoms often include excessive salivation, aggression and staggering.

Reitz said that normally she would look for the animal’s vaccination records. But in this case the identity of this dog and its owners was unknown.

NSHC released a flyer about the incident on Friday, and in the days since, no further sightings of the dog or other strange animal behaviors have been reported, Reitz said. She emphasized that her office has not been able to confirm whether this dog had rabies.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Gambell’s VPO office also said it had no updates about the situation.

Reitz encouraged anyone in the village who sees an animal behaving abnormally to call the VPO and report it. NSHC can help facilitate rabies testing for animals that are suspected to be ill.

Rabies is fatal in humans if not treated, so any contact with an animal that may be sick should prompt a visit to the clinic or a call to the NSHC Provider Call Line.

“If somebody’s bit, they should be seen immediately,” Reitz said.

The incident should serve as a reminder for pet owners to keep their animals tied up and to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies.

The nonprofit Alaska Native Rural Veterinary, Inc. was recently in Gambell this fall to administer vaccinations. Reitz said NSHC will be working with the organization again in 2024.

Phone contacts: Gambell VPO: 907-985-5333, NSHC Office of Environmental Health: 907-434-1659 or 907-434-0543, NSHC Provider Call Line: 907-443-6411 or 844-5868773