It sounds like the decisions in West Virginia have not been completely made
and even when they are the final choices will reside with local health
departments, so you folks there can read this and then get copies of the
Compendium (available from Pam Grant, or from the JAVMA (which your vet will
get and you can photocopy) and of the studies when out to your local
departments. Still consider pursuing legislation after policy is in effect
in your case.
Nebraska also has some news, in that they sent only the OLD law and also
made no mention of the '98 Compendium, but if I read the old one right it's
not the horror scene found in many other states' old ones. Could folks
there, please, see to it that they are aware of the new Compendium and
suggest that ferrets be included in the Domestic Animal portion of their
guidelines for added protection?
Remember, BE POLITE! YOU NEED THESE PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY NEED YOU.
Carl Berryman, DVM, MPH, Epidemiologist, Bureau for Public Health, Division
of Surveillance and Disease Control, 1422 Washington St., East, Charleston,
WV 25301, (304) 558-5358 or 1-800-423-1271; excerpts:
"1. Local health departments in this state are autonomous. The state
health department can only recommend and assist; each can make their own
policy on issues not specifically elucidated in state statutes. Currently,
only dogs and cats are covered by statute.
2. I recommend policy, but do not make it, regarding the disease rabies.
3. There are no specifics on which I am aware regarding pet ferrets in
this state. I would like to have them mandatorily vaccinated, the same as
dogs and cats using only the approved vaccine.
4. I have drafted an "INFORMATION PAPER" on ferrets and rabies which will
be distributed to local health departments within the next 10 days."
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TITLE 173, NEBRASKA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE,
CHAPTER 5, RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING RABIES (from Feb. 1995);
excerpts:
"_002.03_ Domestic animal shall mean any dog or cat, and cat shall mean a
cat which is a household pet.
_003_ _Species of Rabid Animals_ The following are species of animals
capable of harboring and spreading the rabies virus.
_003.01_ Species of animals amenable to rabies protection by immunization:"
(List is dogs, cats, ferrets (number 003.01C), cattle, horses, and sheep.)
"_004_ _Vaccination_ ... "Every domestic animal ... shall be vaccinated
... with a licenced vaccine, as listed in the Compendium of Animal Rabies
Control, 1994... commencing at the age of three months...
_005.01_ "Any animal ... bitten any person or caused an abrasion of the
skin ... shall be seized by the rabies control authority for a period of
not elss than ten days if: ... the animal is suspected of having rabies ...
whether or not the animal has been vaccinated ... the animal is not
vaccinated ... If, after observation and examination by a veterinarian, at
the end of the ten-day period the animal shows no clinical signs of rabies,
the animal may be released to its owner.
_005.03_ ... animal has been vaccinated in accordance with Section 71-4402
and Section 004 ... such animal shall be confined by the owner or other
responsible person ... at least ten days and be observed and examined by a
veterinarian at the end of such ten day period ...
005.05 ... ownership of which cannot be determined within 72 hours of the
time of the bite or abrasion shall be immediately subject to any tests ..."
(The following section on animals bitten by rabid animals appears to
protect only dogs and cats.) That's it; see other post for N.J. and
Wyoming.
[Posted in FML issue 2153]
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