Wayne County Rabies Control Program:   

Animal bites occurring within Wayne County, Ohio should be reported to our Rabies Control Program Office within 24 hours of the incident. The Wayne County Combined General Health District's Rabies Control Program is located at the County Administration Building, 428 West Liberty Street, Wooster, Ohio  44691.

 

Important information on Rabies Post Exposure Treatment vaccine availability:  Updated August 26, 2008

 

Rabies Control Program Contact Information:

Voice (330)264-2426   Fax (330)262-8433   Location Map  

 

We are open to take your information from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday and information may be faxed to our department at any time (330)262-8433.  Specific information that will be needed to report an animal bite includes the following:

 

Date, time and location (address) where animal bite occurred

Name and age of animal bite victim  (If a minor, parent's/guardian's name will be needed)

Address and phone number of bite victim

Location on body where animal bite occurred

Treatment (if any) received

Physician's Name, address, phone number

If wild animal, was animal captured/killed for rabies testing?

If domestic animal, is animal available for observation? Is animal properly vaccinated against rabies?

        Name of pet/domestic animal owner, address, phone number

        Pet/domestic animal's name (as recorded on vaccination records)

        Veterinarian's name, date last rabies vaccination given

Please Note:

Following exposure, an individual should immediately cleanse the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek prompt medical attention from a physician or hospital emergency room. And as noted above, please report the bite or other exposure to your local health department as soon as possible.

 

Rabies Exposure Evaluation Guidelines from Emedicine.com

(Technical, Clinical Information)

 

CDC Questions and Answers on Rabies Exposure/Rabies Information

(Easy to Read, General Information)

 

If capturing/killing animal for rabies testing, it is important not to damage the animals head as the brain is needed for laboratory rabies virus testing.  Ohio Department of Health's Rabies Testing Guidelines for Animals and Maps of testing results [by year.]

 

Destroying the brain with a gun/blunt object may make testing impossible

Legal authority and oversight.  Ohio local Health Departments have been given statutory responsibility for rabies control as outlined in applicable sections of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 

ORC Sections 3701.13, 3701.24, 3701.31, and 3703.06.

OAC Sections 3701-3-02 through 3701-3-06,  3701-3-28 through 3701-3-30.  

 

The Wayne County Combined General Health District has adopted a local regulation on rabies control - Regulation #121.

 

The Ohio Department of Health's Rabies Control Webpage:  http://http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/idc/zoodis/rabies/rab1.aspx

 

Ohio Health Districts are guided by the Ohio Department of Health's Guidelines on Dealing with Rabies Exposures - Updated 2007.