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Rabies is a preventable viral
disease of mammals that is transmitted through contact with the
saliva of an infected animal. The Delaware General Health District
Rabies Control Program is charged with enforcement of reporting
and quarantine of animals involved with a biting incident under
Ohio Administrative Code (Chapter 3701-3).
People are exposed to rabies when
they are bitten by an infected animal, or less commonly, when
saliva from an infected animal gets into an open wound or onto a
mucous membrane. To confirm the victim’s risk of being exposed to
rabies, a decision must be made to either test or quarantine the
biting animal, or to treat the victim. Treatment must be initiated
soon after the exposure to be effective.
If a person has been involved in a
possible rabies exposure by a domestic animal, the following steps
must be completed:
1. If
bitten, consult a Physician.
2. Fill
out a Rabies Incident Report with the Delaware General Health
District.
3. The
domesticated animal involved needs to be quarantine or tested for
rabies, when applicable.
4. The
owner must quarantine the animal for a minimum of ten (10) days
until a Veterinarian checks the animal and provides a Certificate
of Rabies Vaccination to the Delaware General Health District.
(Keep the animal away from contact with people and /or animals and
on a leash when outside). The quarantine may last for a period of
ten (10) days or more from the time of incident.
5. If
the animal is to be tested, fill out Rabies Test Submission Report
and contact the Delaware General Health District to arrange for
testing. See Guidelines for Rabies Specimen Submission.
If a person has been involved in a
possible rabies exposure by a wild/feral animal, the following
steps must be completed:
1. If
bitten, consult a Physician.
2. Fill
out a Rabies Incident Report with the Delaware General Health
District.
3. The
wild/feral animal involved, if captured, needs to be tested. There
is no determined quarantine period for a wild animal.
4. Contact
the Delaware General Health District to arrange for testing.
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