Animal bites from mammals located in Carroll County, such as dogs, cats, raccoons, and bats, are reported to the Carroll County General Health District (CCGHD) by medical facilities, and to the Carroll County Dog Warden due to the potential exposure of the rabies virus.
If the rabies virus is contracted and not properly treated, it is almost always fatal. It is the role of CCGHD to prevent humans from contracting rabies by verifying the vaccination status of the domestic pet, such as a dog or cat, and requiring the animal be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days after the exposure.
If you are bitten by a wild animal, such as a raccoon, bat, fox, or skunk, and can contain it, it is best to have it humanely killed without damaging the brain and have it submitted for testing to determine if it had the rabies virus at the time of exposure. In the event a human has been exposed to a mammal that may have the rabies virus, The CCGHD can submit the animal to the Ohio Department of Health for testing.
What to do if you are bitten by an animal mentioned above:
- Wash any wounds immediately. One of the most effective ways to decrease the chance for infection is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
- Call your doctor and the CCGHD. The doctor may recommend that you get a series of shots commonly known as "rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)."
- If your pet fought with a wild animal, call your veterinarian and CCGHD to report the incident; your animal may need to get a rabies vaccine and be quarantined for a length of time.
Contact Information for CCGHD:
Environmental Health Division Phone: 330 627-4866 Ext. 1522
E-mail: Courtney Grossman, Director of Environmental Health at
Symptoms of Rabies:
The first symptoms of rabies may be nonspecific and include:
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
Signs can progress within days to:
- Cerebral dysfunction
- Cranial nerve dysfunction
- Ataxia
- Weakness
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Excessive salivation
- Abnormal behavior
- Aggression
- Self-mutilation
Prevention is key as rabies is rare in properly vaccinated animals. Please refer to your veterinarian for rabies vaccine requirements for your pet, dogs, cats, and ferrets.
What should I do if I see an animal on my property, such as a racoon, that shows symptoms of rabies, but my family and pets have not been exposed?
If you can safely contain the animal, and humanely kill it without damaging the skull and brain, the CCGHD can have it tested for the rabies virus through the United States Department of Agriculture.
For more information about rabies, please visit:
Rabies and Animal Bites | Ohio Department of Health
The USDA also does oral rabies vaccination by dropping bait for wildlife consumption to help prevent the rabies virus in wildlife mammals.
Learn more about the National Rabies Management Program
Documents:
ODH Laboratory Rabies Test Submission Form
Upcoming Rabies Vaccination Clinics:
There are no rabies clinics scheduled at this time.