The following represents my best guess of the language that will appear in
the 1998 Compendium based upon official statements and informal conversations
among various public health officials amd myself at the 8th Annual Rabies in
the Americas Conference held in Kingston, Ontario last week. [Numbered
references are keyed to the 1997 Compendium.]
Part III: Rabies Control
A. Principles of Rabies Control
2. Domestic Animals: Local governments should initiate and maintain
effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs, cats and ferrets
and to remove strays and unwanted animals.
B. Control methods in Domestic and Confined Animals
1. Preexposure Vaccination and Management
(a) Dogs, Cats and Ferrets
All dogs, cats and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies at 3
months of age and revaccinated in accordance with Part II of this
Compendium. If a previously vaccinated animal is overdue fo a
booster, it should be revaccinated with a single dose of vaccine and
placed on an annual or triennial schedule depending on the type of
vaccine used.
2. Stray Animals
Stray dogs, cats and ferrets should be removed from the community,
especially in areas where rabies is epidemic. Local health
departments and animal control officials can enforce the removal of
strays more effectively if owned animals are confined or kept on a
leash. Strays should be impounded for at least 3 days to give owners
sufficient time to reclaim animals and to determine if human exposure
has occured.
3. Quarantine [This section deals with movement of cats and dogs into the
US and between states. It will probably be amended to include ferrets.]
4. Adjunct Procedures
Methods or procedures which enhance rabies control include: (a)
Licensure. Registration or licensure of all dogs, cats and ferrets
may be used to aid in rabies control. A fee is frequently charged for
such licensure and revenues collected are used to maintain rabies and
animal control programs. Vaccination is an essential prerequisite to
licensure.
5. Postexposure Management
ANY ANIMAL BITTEN OR SCRATCHED BY A WILD, CARNIVOROUS MAMMAL OR A BAT
THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR TESTING SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HAVING BEEN
EXPOSED TO RABIES.
(a) Dogs, Cats and Ferrets
Unvaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal
should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to
have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation
for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.
Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case
by case basis. Dogs, cats and ferrets that are currently
vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the
owner's control, and observed for 45 days.
6. Management of Animals that Bite Humans
A healthy dog, cat or ferret that bites a person should be confined
and observed for 10 days; it is recommended that rabies vaccine not
be administered during the observation period. Such animals should
be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign of illness during
confinement. Any illness in the animal should be reported
immediately to the local health department. If signs suggestive of
rabies develop, the animal should be euthanized, its head removed,
and the head shipped under refrigeration (not frozen) for examination
of the brain by a qualified laboratory designated by the local or
state health department. Any stray or unwanted dog, cat or ferret
that bites a person may be euthanized immediately and the head
submitted as described above for rabies examination. Other biting
animals which might have exposed a person to rabies should be
reported immediately to the local health department. Prior
vaccination of an animal may not preclude the necessity for
euthanasia and testing if the period of virus shedding is unknown for
that species. Management of animals other than dogs, cats and
ferrets depends on the species, the circumstances of the bite, the
epidemiology of rabies in the area, and the biting animal's history,
current health status, and potential for exposure to rabies.
[Posted in FML issue 2120]
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