RABIES

Claire Donley, REHS
P: 740-652-2816
Email: ENVHealth@fairfieldcountyohio.gov

The Fairfield County Health Department conducts a rabies prevention program in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code.

RESOURCES

Animals bites should be reported to the health department as soon as possible. Healthcare providers and Veterinarians are required to report animals bites within 24 hours.

Animal Bite Report Form / Faxed or mailed to the department.
You may also return the form via email to Claire.donley2@fairfieldcountyohio.gov.
Fax: 740-653-8556

Fairfield County Pet Vaccination Clinic Sites

Fairfield Area Humane Society
1721 Granville Pike
Lancaster, OH 43130
P: 740-687-0627

PetSmart
1731 Memorial Drive N
Lancaster, OH 43130
P: 740-205-2156

Pet Supplies Plus
VIP Petcare Community Clinics
1354 Ety Rd NW
Lancaster, OH 43130
P: 740-654-5154

Tractor Supply
1690 East Main St
Lancaster, OH 43130
P: 740-681-1323

WHAT IS RABIES?

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus travels through the central nervous system to the brain. Once it reaches the brain, the disease nearly always causes death. This is a disease that is preventable.

• Keep pets vaccinated against rabies.
• Avoid encounters with wild animals. Bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes are the most common wildlife affected by the disease.
• If bitten by a wild animal, seek immediate medical attention. You can be treated with a series of rabies immune globulin vaccine.

> Ohio Department of Health Rabies & Animal Bites

> CDC Rabies Information

IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL YOU SHOULD:

IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL YOU SHOULD:

• Thoroughly clean the wound area with soap and water and cover with a clean dressing or bandage.
• Immediately seek medical care with your family doctor, urgent care or emergency room. Many bites are puncture wounds that can easily become infected if not cared for properly.
• Try to obtain information about the animal’s owner including name, address and telephone number.
• Try to obtain information about the biting animal such as the type of animal, color, breed, name and rabies tag.
• Make sure that the healthcare provider reports the animal bite to Fairfield County Health department. You may contact the health department at 740-652-2800 to file an animal bite report.

WHAT IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ROLE?

According to Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-28, “Whenever a person is bitten by a dog or other mammal, report of such bite shall be made within 24 hours to the health commissioner of the district in which the bite occurred.”

Fairfield County Health Department is not a dog enforcement agency. The department's role is rabies prevention. The health department is required to quarantine all dogs, cats and ferrets that bite people. The quarantine is for 10 days and is most typically done at the animal owner’s home. The purpose of the quarantine is to ensure that the biting animal does not have rabies. If the biting animal has rabies at the time it bit, the symptoms of rabies will be seen in the animal within 10 days following the bite. FCHD will verify the animal has its current rabies vaccination. 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. The test is done by analyzing 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