Raising rabies

awareness

BROOKLYN —  The Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) recently convened a rabies information exchange and panel discussion of state, regional, and local rabies response partners. 

“The goal of this important meeting was to reduce the risk of rabies transmission in humans and animals by improving inter-agency collaboration,” said NDDH Director of Health Susan Starkey, who also served as moderator for the panel discussion. “We are grateful to have had the participation of so many state, regional, and local subject matter experts who served as panelists so we could fine-tune our coordinated efforts. Lessons learned from this exchange will also help us to develop effective rabies awareness messages for our communities.”

Reports of rabies exposures often peak during spring and summer months, when increased outdoor activities can bring people and pets in close proximity to wildlife.

“In reality, rabies poses a year-round threat but during this time of year, we receive increased reports of people coming in contact with raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, and stray cats,” said NDDH Public Health Nurse Nancy Beaudry. “If a person has been bitten, or if the saliva of a potentially rabid animal comes in contact with a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or open wounds, it is important to seek medical treatment and contact the health department right away so we can provide proper notification and information to any exposed individuals.”

The information exchange was attended by veterinarians, animal control officers, nuisance wildlife control operators, emergency response personnel, shelter personnel and others. Panelists explained their agency’s role in rabies management and response. Public health assures that people remain safe from exposure to rabies. The Department of Agriculture and animal control officers are charged with rabies management and response for domestic animals and the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection handles issues concerning wildlife such as biting/attack incidents, wildlife management and rehabilitation.

Panelists for the discussion included Dr. Randall Nelson, Co-coordinator of the Epidemiology and Emerging Infections Program and State Public Health Veterinarian from the CT Department of Public Health; Mary Jane Lis, State Veterinarian, and Raymond T. Connors, Supervisor of the Animal Control Division from the CT Department of Agriculture; Laurie Fortin, Wildlife Biologist from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Trooper James Esposito from the

Connecticut State Police; Dianne Collette, Director of Animal Services from the Northeast CT Council of Governments; Dr. Betsy Graham from Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital; Dr. Steven Wexler, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine from Day Kimball Healthcare; and Nancy Beaudry, Public Health Nurse from NDDH.

 

To stay safe, NDDH advises:

 

* Stay away from wild animals, strays, and domestic animals that are unfamiliar to you. This includes touching, holding, transporting, feeding, or caring for a stray.

* Seek medical treatment immediately if you’ve been bitten. Wash the wound thoroughly with

soap and lots of water. Your physician will determine if you need anti-rabies treatment.

* Report the incident immediately to your local health department so they can conduct an investigation and provide proper notification and information to exposed individuals

* Wear heavy leather gloves if handling a pet that has been involved in an altercation with a wild or unfamiliar animal; isolate the pet from contact with other pets and people for a minimum of several hours; and wash your hands well following the incident. Avoid direct contact with any

saliva or brain/nervous tissue.

* Pet owners should assure that all of their pets, whether indoor or outdoor animals, are current on all vaccinations, which are required by law.

* If you bring your pet to the veterinarian after an animal attack, the vet may ask you about any human exposures. They should direct you to contact the local health department.

* Bats have small teeth that may leave marks not easily seen. There are certain circumstances when a person might not be aware or able to tell if a bite has occurred. This includes if a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room; or if an adult witnesses a bat in a room with a previously unattended child; an intellectually or developmentally disabled person or an

intoxicated person. Medical attention is recommended for any of these situations. In all circumstances, contact local or state health departments for assistance with medical advice and testing bats for rabies.

* Multiple agencies can be involved in a rabies case. This includes the local health department, local Animal Control Officers, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators, veterinarians, State testing laboratories, the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the CT Department of Agriculture. Be sure to share accurate details so all authorities can conduct proper investigations.

 

 

Important Phone Numbers for Rabies Information or Exposure Reporting

 

 

To report a wild animal attack on humans:

Northeast District Department of Health – 860-774-7350

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division – 860-424-3333

(Note – DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Officers will only be available in cases when an aggressive animal has attacked a person or domestic animal and the attacking animal is present. Officers are not available to respond to bats in living spaces or most calls of wildlife behaving abnormally. In these cases, contact a licensed Nuisance Control Wildlife Operator, a local Animal Control Officer or local police.)

 

To report a domestic animal attack on a human: Contact your town Animal Control Officer (See below) Northeast District Department of Health – 860-774-7350

 

To report a wild animal attack on a domestic animal:

Contact your local Animal Control Officer (See below)

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division – 860-424-3333

 

For more information about rabies:

* Contact your local Animal Control Officer

* Northeast District Department of Health – 860-774-7350 / www.nddh.org

* Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Div. – 860-424-3011 – www.ct.gov/deep (This website includes a directory of licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.)

* Department of Agriculture, Animal Control Division – 860-713-2506 – www.ct.gov/doag

* Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website - http://www.cdc.gov/rabies

* CDC Healthy Pets/Healthy People website - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/index.html

 

Animal Control Officers (ACO) for the

Northeast District Department of Health area:

 

Northeast CT Council of Governments

(NECCOG) covers:

Brooklyn, Canterbury, Hampton, Killingly, Pomfret, Sterling, Woodstock. Call 860-774-1253.

 

Town Animal Control Officers (ACO): Eastford 860-377-6635

Putnam 860-963-6804

Thompson 860-923-1055