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Rabies
In Ohio, animal bites are Class A Reportable (Ohio
Administrative Code, Section 3701-3-02 through 3701-3-06 and 3701-3-28). It is
the responsibility of every physician, laboratory, or "anyone else having
knowledge" to report bites within 24 hours to the local health department
where the patient resides. See
Animal Bites
Investigations.
Prompt reporting is crucial so the local health
department can evaluate each situation and take appropriate action to help
physicians avoid unnecessary treatment, or worse, to fail to treat or delay
treatment, putting the patient at risk.
WHAT DO I DO IF:
 | BITTEN BY AN ANIMAL
 | Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and
running water. |
| Capture the animal, if possible, so it can be
checked for rabies. Take care to prevent additional bites, or |
| Obtain the pet owner's name, address, and
telephone number, Find out if the animal has a current rabies
vaccination and write down the rabies tag and license number. |
| If an animal must be killed, do not damage the
head as rabies testing is done on the brain. |
| When dealing with a dead animal, wear gloves or
use a shovel to move the animal. Put the animal's body in a heavy
duty plastic bag and place in a protected area away from people and
other animals. If necessary, a dead animal may be kept overnight
on ice or in a refrigerator until it can be pick up for testing.
DO NOT FREEZE. Clean the area and tools with one part bleach to 10
parts water. |
| DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE: Go to
your family doctor or the nearest emergency room. |
| Call your county or city health department right
away.
 | Clinton County Health Department
937-382-7251
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| HAVE THIS INFORMATION READY
| Type and description of animal including any
features or marks |
| If it was a pet, whether it wore a collar, has
tags, and where it lives |
| How the bite occurred |
| Whether the animal has been seen in the area
before and what direction it was was traveling
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| IF I SEE A WILD ANIMAL, especially a raccoon, bat,
skunk, fax:
| Stay away and keep your children away |
| Keep pets indoors |
| Let the animal go away on its own |
| You may call a nuisance trapper who will remove
the animal for a fee
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| IF THE ANIMAL IS THREATENING PEOPLE OR PETS:
| Call the appropriate local authority. This
varies with the community. It may be the police, wildlife officer,
animal control officer, humane society, or a nuisance trapper.
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| IF YOUR PET IS EXPOSED TO A WILD ANIMAL THAT MIGHT
BE RABID:
| If possible, retain the wild animal (dead or
alive) so it can be tested |
| Call your veterinarian. Vaccinated pets
will need a rabies booster shot within five days of the attack. |
| An unvaccinated pet must be quarantined for six
months or humanely destroyed. |
| Contact your local health department for advice
on testing or quarantine. |
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