Rabies Surveillance Program
Positive Case of Rabies Found in Raccoon in Tuscarawas County
On July 11, 2018 the Tuscarawas County Health Department received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a deceased raccoon who had been previously exhibiting erratic behavior. The animal was collected by the Health Department at its deceased location near Echo Lake Road in Goshen Township. On August 1, 2018 the Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified by the Ohio Department of Agriculture that the raccoon has been confirmed positive with Raccoon Rabies Variant (RRV). This is the first confirmed case of raccoon rabies variant reported in Tuscarawas County to date. This case signifies an immediate and potential threat of raccoon rabies to new areas of eastern and central Ohio.
RRV is a strain of rabies found in the eastern United States and has recently been identified in areas of Stark County.
Common signs that a raccoon, or other wild animal has rabies include agitation, disorientation, excessively drooling, wobbling when walking and biting or snapping at people or objects.
Tuscarawas County Health Department will continue to work with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to perform enhanced surveillance sample collections near the areas where the rabid raccoon was found. We are asking residents report any raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes or bobcats displaying strange behavior found in Goshen Township and surrounding areas to the Tuscarawas County Health Department by calling (330) 343-5550 or emailing director@tchdnow.org.
No prior cases have been identified in Tuscarawas County. If established, this strain could lead to a dramatic increase in rabies exposure to people and pets. To protect Ohioans and their domestic animals, the Tuscarawas County Health Department is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Wildlife Service (WS) to determine the best response
The Tuscarawas County Health Department conducted two low cost rabies vaccine clinics for dogs and cats in June of this year. TCHD will be planning another low cost clinic in the near future. Please visit www.tchdnow.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tchdnow for date and location confirmation once they are determined.
If you have questions regarding the recent raccoon positive case or about rabies, in general, please feel free to contact the Tuscarawas County Health Department at 330-343-5550 or the ODH Zoonotic Disease program at 614-752-1029 or by emailing at dierctor@tchdnow.org or zoonoses@odh.ohio.gov.
Click on the following links for additional information regarding rabies:
https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprog…/…/zdp/diseases/rabies.aspx
http://www.starkcountyohio.gov/…/Docum…/dealingwrabies-1.pdf
https://www.odh.ohio.gov/…/z…/Diseases/rabies/rabiespep.pdf…
On July 11, 2018 the Tuscarawas County Health Department received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a deceased raccoon who had been previously exhibiting erratic behavior. The animal was collected by the Health Department at its deceased location near Echo Lake Road in Goshen Township. On August 1, 2018 the Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified by the Ohio Department of Agriculture that the raccoon has been confirmed positive with Raccoon Rabies Variant (RRV). This is the first confirmed case of raccoon rabies variant reported in Tuscarawas County to date. This case signifies an immediate and potential threat of raccoon rabies to new areas of eastern and central Ohio.
RRV is a strain of rabies found in the eastern United States and has recently been identified in areas of Stark County.
Common signs that a raccoon, or other wild animal has rabies include agitation, disorientation, excessively drooling, wobbling when walking and biting or snapping at people or objects.
Tuscarawas County Health Department will continue to work with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to perform enhanced surveillance sample collections near the areas where the rabid raccoon was found. We are asking residents report any raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes or bobcats displaying strange behavior found in Goshen Township and surrounding areas to the Tuscarawas County Health Department by calling (330) 343-5550 or emailing director@tchdnow.org.
No prior cases have been identified in Tuscarawas County. If established, this strain could lead to a dramatic increase in rabies exposure to people and pets. To protect Ohioans and their domestic animals, the Tuscarawas County Health Department is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Wildlife Service (WS) to determine the best response
The Tuscarawas County Health Department conducted two low cost rabies vaccine clinics for dogs and cats in June of this year. TCHD will be planning another low cost clinic in the near future. Please visit www.tchdnow.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tchdnow for date and location confirmation once they are determined.
If you have questions regarding the recent raccoon positive case or about rabies, in general, please feel free to contact the Tuscarawas County Health Department at 330-343-5550 or the ODH Zoonotic Disease program at 614-752-1029 or by emailing at dierctor@tchdnow.org or zoonoses@odh.ohio.gov.
Click on the following links for additional information regarding rabies:
https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprog…/…/zdp/diseases/rabies.aspx
http://www.starkcountyohio.gov/…/Docum…/dealingwrabies-1.pdf
https://www.odh.ohio.gov/…/z…/Diseases/rabies/rabiespep.pdf…
|
USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Health and the Tuscarawas County Health Department is interested in collecting animals for rabies surveillance.
Species of concern: Raccoon, Skunk, Fox and Coyote Wildlife Services will test other species as long as the animal was not exposed to people or domestic animal (pets and livestock). Raccoon variant rabies is also a concern with domestic animals. Feral cats are the most often rabies positive domestic animal. Animals that are considered exposures will need to go through the Tuscarawas Health Department (see Animal Bite Investigation section of website) to be tested by the State Health Lab. What we are looking for: Animals that are found dead and road kill. Animals can be dropped at: Tuscarawas County Health Department Environmental Department 897 East Iron Avenue Dover, Ohio 44622 Monday - Friday from 8am to 3:30pm Or call (330)-343-5550 to have the animal picked up |
|