Rabies Control
The rabies program staff works cooperatively with and coordinates efforts among local small animal veterinarians, Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, local emergency rooms and the State Rabies Lab, to control rabies.
Under Kentucky Revised Statute 258.065 all incidents involving person(s) bitten by animals must be reported to the Health Department within twelve (12) hours after the physician’s first attendance. Complete the Animal Bite Report and fax (859) 231-9459) it to LFCHD Environmental Health. If the person bitten does not know the name and address of the animal owner, you may instruct them to find out and call the health department with the information at (859) 231-9791 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Every year, the health department sponsors a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic in cooperation with the local veterinarian’s association.
All dogs and cats reported to have bitten any person within the county are quarantined. This is done in an effort to prevent rabies in the human population and to prevent the spread of rabies in the animal population. Most bites are the result of encounters with dogs or cats, but other pets and wild animals are reported and managed appropriately. Biting animals are quarantined for ten (10) days for observation of rabies.
Animals which stay well during the ten-day period are released. Those animals which become sick are humanely euthanized and tested in the State Rabies Lab.