Rabies Control

The Athens City-County Health Department has investigated thousands of reported animal bites within the General Health District over the years. These investigations typically involve contacting the person bitten, the owner of the animal, and the veterinarian to obtain the pertinent health and vaccination information for the animal involved in the biting incident. Section 3701-3-28 of the Ohio Administrative Code requires that "Whenever a person is bitten by a dog or other animal, report of such bite shall be made within twenty-four hours to the health commissioner of the district in which such bite occurred". Typically, hospitals, emergency medical centers, or family physicians report that they provided medical attention to a person involved in an animal bite by telephone or by faxing an Animal Bite Report Form to the Board of Health. Animal control officers or anyone involved in the biting incident should also report the incident immediately.

The animal involved in the biting incident is required to be quarantined for at least ten days from the date on which a person was bitten. The quarantine period allows for the observation of the overall health of the animal. At the conclusion of the quarantine period, the animal must be observed by a licensed veterinarian.

If the animal dies before the end of the quarantine period or if it is a wild animal or a stray, the animal should be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory for rabies testing. The shipment of the specimen can be arranged by contacting the Athens City-County Health Department at (740) 592-4431 and by completing a Rabies Test Submission Form.

Animal Quarantine Information

• For a rabies quarantine, the animal must be confined in a building, in a pen or on a chain or leash at all times.
• If the animal is being confined in a house, building or pen, the animal must be suitaably restrained with a collar and leash any time the animal is let from the house, building or pen.
• The animal must be kept under control of the owner or handler at all times until the quarantine period is over and the animal has been observed by a licensed veterinarian.
• If the animal cannot be acceptably quarantined and kept under control, the animal shall be ordered quarantined under the supervision of a veterinarian or the Athens County Dog Warden.

Please contact the Athens City-County Health Department with any questions.

Downloads

• Animal Bite Report Form
• What to do if you are bitten by an animal

For More Information, Please Contact

Adele Hanson, RS
Environmental Sanitarian
(740) 592-4431 ext. 234

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