(A) A dog, cat, or ferret bites a human.
(1) If the biting animal was appropriately vaccinated and is available:
(a) The dog, cat, or ferret may be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies test; or
(b) The dog, cat, or ferret should be first examined by a licensed veterinarian. If not found to be exhibiting signs of rabies, it should be placed under owner’s control for ten days and re-examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to being released or at the first sign of symptoms.
1. If the animal dies or shows symptoms of rabies during the ten-day observation period, it must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing. Communicate these facts and results of testing to the appropriate persons immediately. Advise the victim to begin rabies prophylaxis immediately, if not already done so.
2. If the animal does not show symptoms of rabies, release the animal.
(2) If the biting animal was not appropriately vaccinated and is available for quarantine:
(a) Unvaccinated ferrets must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing;
(b) The dog or cat may be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing; or
(c) If the bite was provoked, the animal must be examined by a licensed veterinarian, and if not found to be exhibiting signs of rabies, kept under strict isolation for ten days.
1. If the animal dies or shows symptoms of rabies during the observation period, it must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing. Communicate these facts and results of testing to the appropriate persons immediately. Advise the victim to begin rabies prophylaxis immediately, if not already doing so.
2. If the animal does not show symptoms of rabies, release the animal. The animal must be re-examined and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian prior to release.
(d) If the bite was provoked, the animal must be examined by a licensed veterinarian, and if not found to be exhibiting signs of rabies, impounded for ten days.
1. If the animal dies or shows symptoms of rabies during the observation period, it must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing. Communicate these facts and results of testing to the appropriate persons immediately. Advise the victim to begin rabies prophylaxis immediately, if not already doing so.
2. If the animal does not show symptoms of rabies, release the animal. The animal must be re-examined and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian prior to release.
(e) The biting animal is not available for quarantine. Refer the victim to a physician for possible rabies prophylaxis.
(B) A wild animal bites a human.
(1) If the wild animal is available:
(a) The animal must be euthanized and the head submitted to the laboratory for testing; and
(b) Refer the victim to a physician for possible rabies prophylaxis. If the rabies test of the wild animal is positive, recommended rabies prophylaxis be started immediately.
(2) If the wild animal is not available. Refer the victim to a physician immediately for possible rabies prophylaxis.
(C) Bats.
(1) If a bat is available for testing and the person(s) cannot exclude the possibility of exposure: if a bat is physically present and there is doubt as to whether a contact or bite occurred, the bat should be submitted for rabies analysis. Exposed person(s) should be referred to a physician immediately and rabies prophylaxis considered. If the results of rabies testing will not be delayed, it is acceptable to delay prophylaxis until the results of testing are known.
(2) If the bat is not available for testing, refer the victim to a physician immediately for possible rabies prophylaxis.
(D) A livestock animal bites a human. Refer to the state’s Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industries, at (208) 332-8540, for management of the animal.
(E) A wild animal bites a dog, cat, or ferret.
(1) If the wild animal is available for testing:
(a) Submit the head of the wild animal to the Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Laboratories (334-2235), for rabies testing;
(b) Place the domestic animal under strict isolation or impoundment while waiting for test results;
(c) If the rabies test of the wild animal is negative, release the victim. If the victim animal is unvaccinated, recommend vaccination;
(d) If the rabies test of the wild animal is positive, and the dog, cat, or ferret is appropriately vaccinated:
1. The dog, cat, or ferret may be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing; or
2. The cat or dog must be examined by a licensed veterinarian, re-vaccinated at once, and placed under owner’s control for 45 days. Ferrets must be re-vaccinated at once and placed under owner’s control for 90 days. All domestic animals must be examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to being released from the owner’s control.
(e) If the rabies test positive and the dog, cat, or ferret is not appropriately vaccinated:
1. Unvaccinated ferrets must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing;
2. The dog or cat must be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing; or
3. The dog or cat must be examined by a licensed veterinarian and placed under strict isolation for six months. One month prior to the end of the evaluation period, all cats and dogs should be re-examined and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.
(2) If the wild animal is not available for testing. Any animal potentially exposed to rabies virus by a wild, carnivourous mammal or bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies. The terms bitten or scratched have been eliminated from the statement so that a more accurate evaluation can be made on the basis of the type of contamination rather than the type of wound.
(a) If the dog, cat, or ferret is appropriately vaccinated:
1. The dog, cat, or ferret may be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies testing; or
2. Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are currently vaccinated should be re-vaccinated immediately, kept under the owner’s control, and observed for 45 days. The dog, cat, or ferret must be examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to being released from the owner’s control.
(b) If the dog, cat, or ferret is not appropriate vaccinated:
1. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets should be euthanized and the head submitted for rabies; or
2. The dog, cat, or ferret must be examined by a licensed veterinarian and placed under strict isolation for six months. One month prior to the end of the evaluation period, all cats, dogs, and ferrets should be examined and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian before being released; and
3. Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
(F) A wild animal bites livestock. Refer to the state’s Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industries, at (208) 332-8540 for appropriate action.
(G) A wild animal bites another captive wild animal.
(1) The victim animal should be euthanized;
(2) The victim animal should be impounded until it can be determined whether the rabies suspect that bit the victim is infected or free of rabies. If the rabies suspect animal is found to be free of rabies, the victim animal may be released; or
(3) If the rabies suspect animal is unavailable for testing or is found to have rabies, the victim animal should be euthanized at once.
(H) An animal exhibits unusual behavior, but no contact or bite occurred.
(1) Is the animal species susceptible to rabies (i.e., warm blooded):
(a) Yes, contact the state’s Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health Laboratories, or the Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Laboratories (334-2235), for agreement to test; or
(b) No, do not test animal.
(2) Livestock should be referred to the state’s Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industries, at (208) 332-8540, for appropriate action.
(I) Wolves and wolf hybrids. As quoted from the 1999 Rabies Compendium: “As was reported last year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) convened a meeting of taxonomists and other experts in April of 1996 in an effort to resolve the issue of whether wolves and wolf hybrids are similar enough to dogs to be included on the labels of rabies vaccines for dogs without separate challenge studies. Although participants agreed that rabies vaccines for dogs would probably protect wolves and their hybrids, there was some concern about the safety of other vaccines, especially those with a modified live component. If the labeling for rabies vaccines was expanded, that expansion would also apply all other vaccines. USDA had therefore requested that data on the safety of all vaccines, especially modified live, used on wolves and wolf hybrids be provided to them for evaluation. USDA reported at this meeting that progress had been made in soliciting data and they were optimistic that some kind of decision would be made before the next meeting of the Compendium Committee. The Compendium Committee has deferred any decisions on the post-exposure management of wolves and wolf hybrids until the vaccination issue is resolved.”
(Ord. passed 12-10-2001)