How To Report An Animal With Rabies

Rabies and Animal Exposures

Rabies is a fatal disease spread from animals to humans. Information technology is caused past a virus that attacks the central nervous organisation resulting in seizures, paralysis, and eventually death. The rabies virus is spread through the saliva of a rabid fauna. It is near normally spread from animals to humans when a rabid animal bites a person, but scratches and saliva contact with broken skin or mucous membranes (for instance, the eyes or oral fissure) can also spread the virus.

Important Facts nearly Rabies

• Only warm-blooded animals tin exist afflicted by the rabies virus and get rabid
• Dogs and cats tin become rabies if they are non vaccinated
• Rabies is rarely seen in rodents such equally mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, guinea pigs, hamsters, or rabbits
• Birds, turtles, lizards, fish, and insects cannot become rabies

If preventative treatment is given quickly later a person is exposed to rabies, it is unlikely they will become sick. If treatment is non given speedily, a person infected with rabies will die. This is why information technology is important to see a physician immediately if you are bitten by an aggressive animal, or animal that is acting abnormally, especially if information technology was a wild fauna.

Rabies in the District of Columbia

In the Commune of Columbia (DC), rabies is almost usually found in bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Each yr, the DC Health Animal Services Program tests hundreds of wild and domestic animals. Near of the tests are negative for the disease; however, animals conveying rabies are identified every yr.

• 2019-2020 Annual Surveillance Report (NEW)
• 2018 Annual Surveillance Report
• 2017 Almanac Surveillance Report

While it is possible for squirrels to go rabies, in the U.S. a squirrel has never given rabies to a person. In DC squirrels are very used to people but will bite if hand fed. Utilise the following handout to acquire near normal and abnormal beliefs in DC squirrels: Don't Feed Squirrels

What can exist done to prevent rabies?

1. Vaccinate pets against rabies

Rabies is vaccine-preventable in both people and animals. DC code (viii-1803) require that all cats and dogs over four months of age be vaccinated against rabies. To help residents comply with the police force, the DC Health Animal Services Program offers annual costless vaccination clinics throughout the city. DC canis familiaris licenses are also bachelor for sale at the clinics. Clinics are scheduled periodically throughout the year. Phone call (202) 535-2323 for more information.

2. Avoid contact with potentially rabid animals

• Avoid contact with all stray dogs and stray cats, also as wild animals.
• Do non handle, feed or attract wildlife by leaving trashcans uncovered. Never "prefer" a wild brute.
• Avoid contact with any animal that is acting abnormally and displaying signs of rabies such every bit the following:
  • Pets acting withdrawn
  • Wildlife acting unusually friendly or calm
  • Animals acting unusually aggressive, potentially snapping or lunging at anything in their path
  • Animals active in the daytime that commonly merely appear at nighttime
  • Animals demonstrating difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation (drooling)
  • Animals that are fearful of water or light
  • Animals searching for an isolated place to dice
• Bats and rabies:Bats play key roles in our ecosystem. Yet, some tin can too bear rabies. Any bat can carry the virus, and it'due south impossible to tell if a bat has rabies by looking at it. This is why yous should never bear on a bat and immediately run into a md if you think you may take been bitten or scratched by a bat. If y'all or your pet comes across a bat employ the guidance in the post-obit handout to stay safe: Bats and Rabies

3. Quarantine domestic animals potentially exposed to rabies

Quarantining an animal does not mean it will exist confiscated or killed, simply observed for a specific period of time to see if information technology becomes ill.

• If your animal bites or attacks a person, DC Municipal Regulations DCMR 22-B203 require that you keep your dog or cat quarantined on your belongings (or another location if deemed necessary) for 10 days. A representative from DC Animate being Control will inspect your animal on the first (day 1) and concluding day (day x). If your animal starts acting ill or runs away during the quarantine flow, notify DC Creature Control immediately. If your creature remains good for you during the quarantine, your animal will exist released from quarantine (and the exposed person volition not crave rabies prophylaxis).
• If your vaccinated animal is bitten or attacked by another animal, they should be examined by a licensed veterinarian immediately. Based on your animal's vaccination history, and the circumstances of the creature assault, DC Wellness may crave your animal be quarantined. The length of the quarantine will be adamant by your veterinarian and DC Animal Control. If your unvaccinated dog or cat is exposed to a rabid or suspected-rabid animal, DC Municipal Regulations mandate that your animal be quarantined in strict isolation for four months. If your animal has prove of receiving at least one USDA-licensed rabies vaccine in the past 3 years you may just demand to quarantine them on your property (or another location if deemed necessary) for 45 days at the most.

Data for Homo Healthcare Providers

Reporting a person bitten by an animal

All cases where a person was attacked past an animal, potentially exposed to rabies, or deemed necessary to administer rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should exist reported using DC Reporting and Surveillance Center (DCRC), our online reporting organisation.

►Report an animal bite by submitting a DCRC Animal Bite Report Form.

PEP Guidance and Resource for Testing People

• Rabies PEP Administration DC Guidelines Flowchart (domestic creature bites a person)
• Rabies PEP Assistants DC Guidelines Flowchart (wildlife bites a person)
• CDC Guidelines for Treating Rabies Exposures in Humans
• CDC Utilize of a Reduced (4-Dose Vaccine Schedule for PEP to Forbid Human Rabies
• CDC Guidelines for Rabies Testing in Humans
• Rabies PEP Programs for Uninsured and Underinsured Patients
• WHO Guide for Postal service-exposure Prophylaxis (for exposures occurring outside the U.Southward.)
• CDC Yellow Book: Rabies

Information for Animal Healthcare Providers

These documents provide quick references for animal healthcare providers in regards to quarantining, treating, and reporting animals that have attacked a person or been attacked by another animal.

Reporting an animal that bit a person (or animal) or was bitten by some other animal

All cases where an brute attacked or was attacked by another animal, was potentially exposed to rabies, or deemed necessary to undergo a rabies quarantine should exist reported using DC Reporting and Surveillance Centre (DCRC), our online reporting system, or past contacting DC Animal Control at (202) 576-6664.

►Report an animal seize with teeth past submitting a DCRC Animal Bite Report Course.

Quarantine Guidance

• Creature Exposure and Quarantine Guidelines
• DC Rabies Quarantine Guidelines Flowchart (domestic beast bites a person)
• DC Rabies Quarantine Guidelines Flowchart (domestic animate being bites a domestic brute)
• DC Rabies Quarantine Guidelines Flowchart (wildlife bites a domestic animal)
• 2016 NASPHV Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Command

Rabies FAQ Sheets and Client Handouts

• Middle for Food Security and Public Health Rabies FAQ Sheets
• AVMA Rabies Client Data Brochure (English)
• AVMA Rabies Client Information Brochure (Spanish)

Health Standards for Importing and Exporting Animals

• APHIS Pet Travel

DC Health Rabies Contact Information

• For questions regarding administering PEP, quarantining animals, or rabies, email [email protected].
• For PEP guidance, telephone call (202) 442-9143 during business organisation hours.
• For fauna quarantine guidance, call (202) 442-4932 during business hours.

Additional Information

• For Virginia Residents: Virginia Department of Wellness
• For Maryland Residents: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC) website

Service Contact:

Partition of Epidemiology- Disease Surveillance and Investigation (DE-DSI)

Office Hours:

Mon to Friday, viii:15am to 4:45pm

Source: https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/rabies-and-animal-exposures

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