HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES RABIES WARNING; Pet Owners Urged to Have Animals Vaccinated
April 18, 2008 — With warmer weather approaching more people will begin outdoor activities and the risk of contact with an animal infected with the rabies virus increases. Incidences of rabies usually start in April and continue rising through the summer months.
The Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department is issuing a reminder for all pet owners to make sure their cats and dogs are vaccinated against rabies. Keeping vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs and cats is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you if your pet is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
To encourage the immunization of dogs and cats, Drs. Henry and Jody Akers and Dr. Laurie Hickox annuallyconduct a free rabies immunization clinic. The 2008 clinic was held May 3. Check back in the spring for dates for the 2009 clinic.
“Last year we made 222 contacts [inspections, investigations or consultations] concerning rabies,” said Joe Evans, director of Environmental Health at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department. “Dogs are the most frequent investigation calls, but we have high risks factors associated with cats and wild animals as well.”
Evans added that everyone should be cautious around stray dogs and no one should ever approach a wild animal, especially one that is acting in a strange manner. Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.  They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
“Parents should take particular precautions by teaching their children, even their toddlers, not to approach strange dogs,” Evans added. “Children are the most frequent victims of animal bites.” If you or your child is a bite victim, treat the wounds with soap and water. Professional medical advice should be sought immediately to evaluate the risk of rabies or other infections.
For further information, contact the Environmental Health Division at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department by calling 419-774-4520. Additional information about rabies is also available at the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/
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ATTENTION: If you have reached this page after being bitten by any animal, contact the Health Department at 419-774-4520 and ask for Sanitarian who does rabies investigations. You will be advised to seek proper medical attention. (the Public Health Clinic at the Health Department is available for bite victims without a physician). The sanitarian will then begin an investigation.

Note: Wound cleansing is especially important in rabies prevention. Gently wash the bite area with water and seek medical attention immediately. Tetanus shots should be administered if you have not been immunized in ten years. Decisions regarding the use of antibiotics, and primary wound closure should be decided after talking with your physician or health care provider.

ABOUT RABIES
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals.  People get rabies from the bite of an animal with rabies (a rabid animal).  Any wild mammal, like raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people.    Because rabies is a fatal disease, the goal of public health is to prevent and control the spread of rabies by conducting rabies investigations for every animal bite in the County.  The program also hosts a rabies vaccination clinic to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.   The Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Board of Health, with the help of the Rabies Program, enforces all rules and laws for rabies control set forth by the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code.  

Animal Bites
All animal bites occurring in Richland County are required to be reported to the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department.  When a bite is reported, a Health Department Sanitarian will advise that the victim seek proper medical attention.  The Public Health Clinic located at the Health Department is available for victims with no medical assistance.  The Sanitarian will then immediately begin investigating the case for rabies.  

The first step required by the Ohio Administrative Code is to quarantine the animal involved in a biting incident for a minimum period of 10 days from the day of the bite.  The animal must be isolated and enclosed in a restricted area during the quarantine under the owners control or at a pound or kennel.  The animal owner is responsible for any costs associated with the quarantine.  If the animal becomes ill, dies, is lost or is relocated during the period of quarantine, the animal owner is responsible to notify the Health Department immediately.  If symptoms suggestive of illness are present during the quarantine period, the Health Department will require, at your expense, the animal to be submitted for veterinary examination.   

During the quarantine period, the animal owner must provide documentation which demonstrates active immunization of the animal against rabies.  If immunization is not current, the animal shall be properly vaccinated, and documentation to the Health Department, shall be be provided prior to the removal of quarantine.  The animal shall not be immunized until released for immunization by the department.  Upon confirmation of immunization, the department will lift the quarantine and complete a release notice.  Failure to comply with the provisions of Section 3701-3-29, Ohio Administrative Code, is a violation of Section 3709.21, Ohio Revised Code, and will be prosecuted in accordance with Section 3709.99, Ohio Revised Code.

Symptoms of Clinical Rabies in Humans
Pain or numbness at the site of the bite, fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.  In some individuals, early nervous system involvement may be indicated by the presence of apprehension, anxiety, agitation, nervousness, insomnia, or depression.  Symptoms rapidly progress, usually in a matter of days, to include paralysis, spasms of the throat, delirium, hallucinations, coma, cardiac arrhythmia, and finally DEATH.  In humans it can take as little as 9 days or as long as 1 year for the symptoms of rabies to appear.  Most people who get rabies however, develop symptoms within 60 days of being exposed.

How Do I Know If An Animal Is Rabid?
Most people think rabid animals can easily be spotted because they always drool excessively and foam at the mouth.  In fact, most animals will display these symptoms only during the latter stages of infection, and sometimes not even then.  A better way to identify animals that pose a risk is to recognize unusual or abnormal behavior.  Rabid animals, wild or domestic, may stagger, appear restless, be aggressive, change the tone of their barks or growls, or appear to be choking.  Wild animals sometimes lose their fear of humans and act friendly.  Animals that usually are active at night may become more active during the day.  Passive animals sometimes become fierce and aggressive.

Rabies Clinic
Once a year, local veterinarians in cooperation with the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department host a rabies immunization clinic.  Richland County residents are encouraged to have their pet dog or cat vaccinated against this deadly disease.  Rabies shots are available free of charge or at reduced rates during this special clinic.