Rabies Control
Local health departments, veterinarians and the medical
community all have a role in educating the public about rabies. Part of this
role is also to reduce the incidence of animal bites, as they are a common
injury of children.
- Avoid contact with wild animals, including injured or sick animals. Never handle any wild animal found dead.
- Do not keep wild animals as pets, as there is no rabies vaccine approved for these species and the period of viral shedding during infection is unknown.
- Moving an even apparently healthy animal for nuisance control or sport hunting may spread diseases, including rabies, from one area to another. The Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code have strict regulations to control the transportation, propagation, and/or trapping of raccoons and other wildlife. Anyone conducting such activities must have proper documentation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and must follow all applicable regulations.
- Unwanted colonies of bats should be excluded from buildings by sealing openings. Indiscriminate killing of insectivorous bats is not recommended. The construction of "bat houses" in close proximity to human dwellings is discouraged.
- Vaccinating domestic animals and not permitting dogs and cats to roam free are important precautions in preventing domestic animal and human rabies. Vaccination of house cats is appropriate. They frequently come into contact with or capture bats, which enter a house.
- Eliminate food and dining sites for raccoons and other wild carnivores in urban and suburban areas. This may include animal-proof trash containers, not leaving pet food out at night, covering chimneys, and closing garages, sheds, and porches.
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