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]