Rabies
April 25, 2005
- Released By
- Barbara J. Hastings, RN, BSN, MSN
- Position
- Public Health Director
- Released By
- Kathleen M. Ellis
- Position
- Administrative Officer
With the arrival of warmer weather, there is a chance that you or your pet may come into contact with wildlife - bats, raccoons, skunks, woodchucks and foxes - that could have rabies. You can greatly reduce your risk of exposure to rabies if you avoid wildlife, especially animals that are unusually tame or aggressive, and if you keep your pets' rabies vaccinations up-to-date (See Free Rabies Clinics. Warn children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult if they are bitten or if they see a bat indoors.
Due to contact with wildlife, stray dogs and cats, the Cattaraugus County Health Department has already administered post-exposure rabies treatment to 8 people so far in 2005. For this reason, it is important that you and your children adhere to the above advice.
As of March 21, 2005, New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Rabies Laboratory confirmed NYS has had 65 positive rabid animals with 95% of these cases being wildlife. Raccoons accounted for 78% of wildlife cases.
Rabies vaccinations are now required for all cats, dogs and domesticated ferrets by four months of age with a booster given one year later and every 3 years folloing. Due to their underdeveloped immune systems, animals cannot be vaccinated until 12 weeks of age. Failure to keep a pet rabies vaccination current may result in a fine of up to $200.
If a pet bites a person and you wish to avoid euthanizing and testing it for rabies, it must be confined and observed for ten days. If the pet is not up-to-date on its rabies shots, the ten day confinement/observation period must take place at the owner's expense, at an appropriate facility such as an animal shelter, veterinarian's office, or kennel. If the pet is up-to-date on its rabies shots, the county health department may alllow the ten-day confinement/observation period to take place at home.
As in the past, if a rabid or suspect-rabid animal fights with a pet that is not up to date on its immunizations, the pet must be promptly destroyed or placed in quarantine for six months to protect other animals and people in case the pet develops rabies. Neither of these is required for a vaccinated pet in the same situation, which requires only a booster dose of vaccine within 5 days.
Update! Free Rabies Clinics are offered to county residents throughout the year. For more information please call the County Health Department at 373-8050 or at 1-800-251-2584