WHAT IS RABIES?
Rabies is a is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system. It can infect all mammals and is seen mostly in bats, skunks, raccoons and other wild animals. People can also get the disease. If you are exposed to a rabid animal, you can be treated with a series of rabies immune globulin vaccine. Treatment must begin soon after the exposure to be effective. Once a person or animal becomes sick with rabies, they will usually die.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET RABIES?
People get rabies by being bitten by a rabid animal or by getting saliva from the animal into an open cut or mucous membrane
(nose, mouth, or eyes).
IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL YOU SHOULD:
IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL YOU SHOULD:
- Wash the wound with lots of soap and water right away.
- Call your doctor.
- Capture the animal, if you can do it safely, or get the name and address of the animal’s owner
TO REPORT AN ANIMAL BITE: CALL FAIRFIELD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Phone: 740-652-2800
PLEASE HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AVAILABLE:
- Date of bite
- Name, address, and age of person bitten
- Type of animal, breed and description of the animal (color, markings, long or short hair).
- If it was a pet, name and address of owner.
- If the owner is unknown, was the animal wearing a collar or tags.
WHAT IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ROLE?
The Fairfield County Health Department is not a dog enforcement agency. The department's role is rabies prevention. The department will place cats and dogs that bite on quarantine for 10 days and verify the animal has its current rabies vaccination. After the ten days, the animal must be observed by a Veterinarian or by the department. If the rabies vaccine is not current it must be updated before the animal will be removed from quarantine.
If the animal dies during the ten day quarantine, is a stray, or is a wild animal it can be tested for rabies. Animals must be euthanized before they can be tested. The test is done by analyzing the brain tissue. An animal with trauma to the head may not be able to be tested for rabies.
WHAT DO I DO IF I SEE A STRAY DOG?
To report a stray dog running loose contact the Fairfield County Dog Shelter + Adoption Center
P: 740-652-7180 / co.fairfield.oh.us/dog
