Perry County Health Deparment

121 West Brown Street New Lexington, OH 43764 (740)342-5179

ANIMAL BITES/RABIES PREVENTION: All animal bites on humans are required to be reported to the health department. Each is logged and followed.-up with an appropriate investigation and consultation. Each animal bite forces a decision about whether or not to quarantine the animal, sacrifice and test the animal for rabies, or- recommend that the victim submit to treatment with rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections. In addition to investigating animal bites, the staff also administers a program which requires the vaccination of all dogs in the county against rabies.

Perry County Rabies Control Program:

Animal bites occurring within Perry County, Ohio should be reported to our Rabies Control Program Office within 24 hours of the incident. The Perry County Health District's Rabies Control Program is located at the Perry County Health Department Building, 121 West Brown Street, New Lexington, Ohio, 43674.

Rabies Control Program Contact Information:

Voice (740)342-5179 Fax (740)342-5540

We are open to take your information from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday-Friday and information may be faxed to our department at any time (740)342-5540. 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)


More Rabies Information Contained Elsewhere on this Website (Resource Links and Local/State Rabies News & Updates)

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.

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.

Ohio Health Districts are guided by the Ohio Department of Health's Guidelines on Dealing with Rabies Exposures - Updated 2001.