RABIES - THE DISEASE
Rabies is a viral infection which is fatal to humans. The rabies virus is contained in the saliva and nervous tissue of rabid animals. Rabies is prevented by avoiding exposure or by completing post-exposure treatment should an exposure occur. Post-exposure treatment consists of a series of five injections into a large muscle such as the arm or buttocks.

HUMAN EXPOSURE TO RABIES
The majority of human rabies deaths in the United States result from bites or scratches from bats. Any such incident or mere skin contact with a bat or any bat in proximity to an unattended child or a sleeping or impaired person must be reported to the TCHD immediately for rabies risk analysis.

All mammal bites or scratches are possible exposures to the rabies virus. Parents should impress upon their children the necessity of reporting any animal contact to them. New York State Public Health Law requires the reporting of all mammal bites to the TCHD immediately, using the above emergency phone number if necessary.

Any mammal bite or scratch to a human should be immediately and thoroughly cleansed with soap and water and reported to the TCHD for rabies risk analysis.

Saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal entering an open wound or weeping rash or any mucous membrane (i.e. eyes, nostrils, mouth or genitals) is a possible rabies exposure and, after thorough washing, should be reported to the TCHD for risk analysis.

Any rabies virus that gets on a cat or dog or any other surface from a rabid animals mouth, will not be infectious after two (2) hours have passed. Careful handling of or avoidance of contact with cats, dogs or contaminated objects for this two (2) hour period eliminates all risk.

WHEN AN ANIMAL BITES A HUMAN
If possible, a biting wild animal should be killed or captured without damage to the head. It can then be analyzed by the New York State Rabies Laboratory and the need for rabies post-exposure treatment determined with certainty.

A biting cat, dog, ferret, or domestic livestock should be identified and the name, address, and phone number of the owner acquired and reported to the TCHD immediately.

It is known that if a biting cat, dog, ferret, horse, cow, sheep, or pig had rabies virus in its saliva when it bit, the animal will exhibit other overt rabies symptoms within 3-5 days. The TCHD will supervise a ten (10) day observation of each biting animal for rabies symptoms. Survival of this observation period by the animal rules out rabies risk for the bitten person.

A uncaptured or unidentified biting animal means rabies risk can not be ruled out by the laboratory test or ten (10) day observation methods. Consult the TCHD immediately for rabies risk analysis.

PETS EXPOSED TO RABIES
Any vaccinated cat or dog which is bitten by, scratched by or in direct contact with a rabid cat, rabid dog, rabid domestic livestock animal, or a bat, raccoon, fox, skunk, or woodchuck must receive a rabies booster shot within five (5) days or be surrendered to the TCHD for immediate euthanasia and disposal.

Any unvaccinated cat or dog which is bitten by, scratched by, or in direct contact with a bat, raccoon, fox, skunk, or woodchuck or a rabid cat, rabid dog, or rabid domestic livestock animal must be surrendered to the TCHD for immediate euthanasia and disposal.

MANDATORY PET VACCINATION
Harboring an unvaccinated cat or dog may result in a $250 dollar penalty. Barn cats and stray dogs must be captured and vaccinated or turned over to the SPCA.

ANIMALS ACTING STRANGELY
If any wild animal behaves in a strange manner, displays paralysis of the hind quarters or is unusually docile or excessively aggressive:

A. LEAVE IT ALONE! Until a bite or salivary exposure occurs, there is no human concern: no agency is responsible for a wild animal.

B. If a real threat to public safety exists, you can call your local police or the DEC for assistance; or you may contact a professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Person who will dispatch the animal for a fee; or you may call the SPCA.

C. If you choose to destroy the animal yourself, use a method that will not damage the head or expose you to saliva or nervous tissue. DO NOT TOUCH the animal without gloves or a plastic bag.

Any dead animal which has caused no rabies risk by contacting a person or pet may be disposed of by burial under 24 inches of soil or by double plastic bag and regular trash hauler.