The Center for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Community
Health have notified the Washtenaw County Public Health Department (WCPHD)
that there is a severe shortage of the human rabies vaccine. This is due to
decreased production. Because of this shortage the Washtenaw County Public
Health Department is strongly recommending that the public take steps to
avoid contact with unfamiliar, wild and stray animals to limit potential
exposure to rabies.
If you've been bitten or exposed to an animal it is now more
important than ever to safely capture the animal for testing.
Please do not just shoo the animal out of your house or yard,
try to capture it safely, preferably with help from animal control, so it
can be tested for rabies. If the animal gets away, it's likely that you will
need the rabies vaccination, perhaps needlessly.
What should you do?
- If you have had direct contact or a potential bite exposure you should
safely capture or detain the animal, preferably with animal control
help, so that it can be tested for rabies.
- All animal bites and exposures to bats should be reported to the
Washtenaw County Public Health Department. 734-544-6770
- Submit for testing any bat you find in your room upon
waking, a bat found in the room of an unattended child, or near a mentally
impaired or intoxicated person.
- Prevent bats from entering homes or other buildings where they
might come in contact with humans or animals.
- Never handle unfamiliar wild or domestic animals, even if they
appear friendly.
- Wash any wound caused by an animal thoroughly with soap and water
and seek immediate medical attention.
- Test all wild or stray animals (excluding rodents) that may have
exposed humans or other animals to rabies.
- Don’t leave pet food or table scraps outside where they will
attract wild or stray animals.
- Keep vaccinations current for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
Additionally, keep your cats and ferrets inside, and your dogs under direct
supervision.
- Consult your veterinarian about vaccinations for horses and other
livestock.
- Call animal control to remove stray animals from your
neighborhood, and call nuisance animal control to deal with wild
animals.
Other rabies information: