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Background:
The
New York State Department of Health (NYS/DOH) and the U.S. Public Health
Service, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that the incidence
of rabies disease in wildlife - especially skunks, foxes, raccoons and
bats - accounts for a majority of all reported cases of
animal rabies in New York State.
Facts
About Rabies:
Rabies
is an acute viral infection of the central nervous system that affects
mammals. It is transmitted by introducing the virus
into cuts or wounds in skin or via the mucous membranes. Bites from infected mammals are the usual path
of transmission to humans. Transmissions
may also occur through scratches, abrasions, open wounds or mucous membrane
that come in contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material,
such as brain tissue, from a rabid animal.
Casual contact, such as petting a rabid animal, does not constitute
an exposure and is not an indication for prophylaxis.
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Rabies virus can live
a few hours outside the body in saliva and body fluids.
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Rabies virus inside
the body, i.e., brain, can live for days.
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Freezing extends the
life of the rabies virus after the animal's death.
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Rabies virus is usually
transmitted into open cuts or wounds in skin and via mucous membranes.
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All known exposures
to animals or humans must be reported to the Broome County
Department of Health (778-2887).
Any preparations for laboratory diagnosis must be done in accordance
with NYS/DOH guidelines.
Universal Precautions:
Consider all exposures to known vectors as rabid.
This includes all road kills.
Known vectors include (all) bats, Red & Grey fox, raccoons,
skunks, dogs, cats, livestock as well as carnivorous wild animals.
Engineering Controls & Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE):
All employees that have the potential to come into
contact with a suspected rabid animal must practice the
following engineering controls and wear appropriate PPE:
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Always wear heavy-duty
rubber gloves when handling equipment to pick-up road kills or to physically
handle a carcass. Red-bag disposable
gloves and follow regulated medical waste procedures for disposal of
red-bag waste (see Management Procedure 819).
Disinfect non-disposable utility gloves.
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Required equipment for
the pickup of road killed or euthanized animals is:
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flat blade shovel with marked handle
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Use a designated shovel,
i.e., handle painted red, to pick up a road killed animal. Use the marked shovel only for road kills and
store it in a safe and readily available location.
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Animals raccoon-size
and smaller must be placed in a plastic bag and tied shut. Deliver to S3-B7 for disposal. Larger animals must be buried at a depth of
three feet or more.
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Disinfecting the shovel,
your hands, the truck bed and the roadway where the carcass laid is
required. Liberally spray or
pour a 1:10 household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution on the equipment,
ground, hands (gloves) & truck bed after the carcass has been bagged.
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Suspected live rabid
animals should be referred to the Broome County Department of Health
(778-2887). Animals should be
euthanized only by appropriate authorities and the carcass handled following
universal precautions while utilizing Personal Protective Equipment.
Exposures:
Any employee receiving a suspected exposure (bite,
scratch or direct contact with saliva or body fluids to a cut or mucous
membrane) must report the exposure to their supervisor and Environmental
Health & Safety (x7-2211) immediately.
In addition to verbally reporting the incident, a CS-13 accident or illness report must be completed within 3 days and forwarded to Environmental Health & Safety (see Management Procedure 806). All exposures will be reported to the county health
officer in accordance with the New York State Sanitary Code Chapter
I, Title 10, Part 2, Section 2:14 (Broome County Dept. of Health: 778-2887).
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