A. PRINCIPLES OF RABIES CONTROL

1. Human Rabies Prevention- Rabies in humans can be prevented either by eliminating exposures to rabid animals or by providing exposed persons with prompt local treatment of wounds combined with appropriate passive and active immunization.

2. Domestic Animals- Local governments should initiate and maintain effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs and cats and to remove strays and unwanted animals. Such procedures in the United States have reduced laboratory confirmed rabies cases in dogs from 6,949 in 1947 to 130 in 1993. Since more rabies cases are reported annually involving cats than dogs, vaccination of cats should be required.

3. Rabies In Wildlife- The control of rabies among wildlife reservoirs is difficult. Selective population reduction may be useful in some situations, but the success of such procedures depends on the circumstances surrounding each rabies outbreak.

B. CONTROL METHODS IN DOMESTIC AND CONFINED ANIMALS

1. Pre-exposure Vaccination and Management

Animal rabies vaccines should be administered only by, or under the direct supervision of, a veterinarian. This is the only way to ensure that a responsible person can be held accountable to assure the public that the animal has been properly vaccinated. Within 1 month after primary vaccination, a peak rabies antibody titer is reached, and the animal can be considered immunized. Regardless of the age at initial vaccination, a second vaccination should be given one year later.

(a) Dogs and Cats- All dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies at 3 months of age.

(b) Ferrets- May be vaccinated against rabies at 3 months of age.

2. Stray Animals

Stray dogs or cats should be removed from the community, especially in areas where rabies is epizootic. 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 three days to give owners sufficient time to reclaim animals and to determine if human exposure has occurred.

3. Quarantine

(a) International- Center for Disease Control (CDC) regulates the importation of dogs and cats into the United States. All dogs and cats imported from countries with enzootic rabies should be currently vaccinated against rabies as recommended in the Compendium.

(b) Interstate- Prior to interstate movement, dogs and cats should be currently vaccinated against rabies. Also, Animals in transit should be accompanied by a currently valid NASPHV Form #51, Rabies Vaccination Certificate.

4. Postexposure Management

ANY ANIMAL BITTEN OR SCRATCHED BY A WILD, CARNIVOROUS MAMMAL (OR A BAT) NOT AVAILABLE FOR TESTING SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO RABIES.

Dogs and Cats- Unvaccinated dogs and cats 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. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for 45 days.

Other Animals- Other animals bitten by a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. Such animals currently vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the USDA for that species may be revaccinated immediately and placed in strict isolation for at least 90 days.

5. Management of Animals that Bite Humans

A healthy dog or cat 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. Management of animals other than dogs and cats depends on the species, the circumstances of the bite, and the epidemiology of rabies in the area.

C. CONTROL METHODS IN WILDLIFE

The public should be warned not to handle wildlife. Wild mammals (as well as the offspring of wild species cross-bred with domestic dogs and cats) that bite or otherwise expose people, pets, or livestock should be considered for euthanasia and rabies examination. A person bitten by any wild mammal should immediately report the incident to a physician who can evaluate the need for antirabies treatment.

SOURCE- Compendium of Animal Rabies Control, 1995 - National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc.