Perry County Health Department
ANIMAL BITES & RABIES PREVENTION
*Anyone bitten by an animal should contact their local physician or medical facility immediately. *
All animal bites on humans are required to be reported to the health department. Each reported bite is recorded, and all parties involved are consulted. Each animal bite forces a decision about whether to quarantine the animal, sacrifice and test the animal for rabies, or- recommend that the victim submit to treatment with rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections.
Following exposure, an individual should immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek prompt medical attention from a physician or hospital emergency room. And as noted above, please report the bite or other exposure to your local health department as soon as possible.
PERRY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: RABIES MONITORING PROGRAM
Animal bites occurring within Perry County, Ohio should be reported to our Rabies Monitoring Program Office within 24 hours of the incident. The Perry County Health Department’s Rabies Monitoring Program is located at the Perry County Health Department Building, 409 Lincoln Park Drive, New Lexington, Ohio, 43674. Animal bites should be reported on an Animal Bite Report Form and submitted to our office.
RABIES TESTING:
- If a resident wishes to have an animal tested for rabies, they must contract with a local veterinary service to euthanize and prepare the specimen for testing.
- Bats must be euthanized prior to submission to the Perry County Health Department. The head and neck stem must be intact and not damaged in order to properly test.
- All test specimens must be kept between 32 and 41 Degrees Fahrenheit (Refrigerator Temperature) after being euthanized.
Rabies Monitoring Program Contact Information
P:
740-342-5179
/ Fax:
740-342-5540
We are open to take your information from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday-Friday and information may be faxed to our department at any time.
Specific information that will be needed to report an animal bite includes the following:
- Name and age of animal bite victim (If a minor, parent’s/guardian’s name will be needed)
- Address and phone number of bite victim
- Location on body where animal bite occurred.
- Treatment (if any) received.
- Physician’s Name, address, phone number
- If wild animal, was animal captured/killed for rabies testing?
- If domestic animal, is animal available for observation? Is animal properly vaccinated against rabies?
- Name of pet/domestic animal owner, address, phone number
- Pet/domestic animal’s name (as recorded on vaccination records)
- Veterinarian’s name, date last rabies vaccination given.