HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-16-1997 - 10a ORANGE COUNTY 1
Board of Commissioners
Action Agenda
Item No.,1Q-q
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: April 16, 1997
Subject: Rabies Control Report
Department: Health Public Hearing Yes_ No X
Budget Amendment Yes X No
Attachments(s) Information Contact
Health Director's Office X2411
1. Statistical Report of Confirmed
Rabies Cases and the Results. Telephone Number
2. Incidence of Rabies by Month.
3. A map showing the location of Hillsborough 732-8181
rabies cases. Chapel Hill 968-4501
4. Letter to Orange County residents Mebane 227-2031
used in canvassing in neighborhoods Durham 688-7331
where rabies cases have occurred.
5. N.C. Rabies Activity Report for
December 1996.
6. Rabies in North Carolina 1990-96.
7. Newspaper articles regarding the
Statewide Rabies Control Program.
8. Copy of letter to Senator R.L. Martin
regarding State funding for rabies control.
Purpose:
To update the Commissioners on the rabies epidemic in Orange County.
Background:
At the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 1, 1997, Commissioner Brown asked for an
update of the rabies epidemic in Orange County. She also asked whether funding at the state level
was sufficient to meet the needs of the epidemic and whether the Board of Commissioners could
write a letter to legislators asking them to fund the appropriate state agency that could help with
the epidemic. The Health Director and Animal Control Director will present the attached
information at the Board meeting of April 16, 1997.
2
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The attached newspaper articles outline the extent to which the state's system is being taxed by
the rabies epidemic and highlight the fact that Governor Hunt's budget contains $100,000 to hire
another state veterinarian and pay for rabies education materials. One article also indicates that
half the money to provide the funding may come from adding a nickel to the 2.5 cents that the
state charges veterinarians for each pet rabies tag. There is some concern in the rabies control
community that this funding mechanism may result in veterinarians choosing to purchase rabies
tags elsewhere resulting in less oversight by local rabies control programs. Some advocates feel
that this funding measure should be accompanied by a requirement that the tags be purchased
from the state to assure good internal control.
Finally, attached is a letter from Dr. William H. Pryor, Jr., Professor and Chair of the Department
of Comparative Medicine at the ECU School of Medicine. His letter outlines reasons to support
the Governor's expansion budget provision of$100,000 to the Division of Epidemiology of the
Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR). The letter is addressed to
Senator R.L. Martin who is Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic
Resources(NER). This committee is reviewing the DEHNR budget.
Recommendation: To receive the report as information.
3
STATISTICAL REPORT
OF
CONFIRMED RABIES CASES AND THE RESULTS
The following figures reflect the impact of the rabies outbreak in Orange County from July 1,
1996 through March 31, 1997.
• 84 specimens submitted to the state laboratory to test for rabies.
• 31 specimens confirmed positive by the state laboratory. (26 raccoons, 5 skunks)
• 50 dogs/cats revaccinated as result of a possible exposure by a confirmed rabid animal.
• 13 unvaccinated dogs/cats euthanized as a result of possible exposure by a confirmed rabid
animal.
• 28 people have received rabies treatment through their private physicians.
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CASES
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July, 1996
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in Reported Rabies Cases Orange County
July 1, 1996 - March 31, 19.07 ,r 17
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Legend
■ July 1996 December 1996
August 1996 January 1997
September 1996 February 1997 > ,
L October 1996 March 1997 p>am
� Inspections
Informa�un serr�Division
November 1996 Heavy nne reps 2 mile radios from confirmed case. 9 Mc'
• 6
(9han9e County c34edth Tl epatctlment
Daniel B.Reimer, MPH, Director
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION #I o e1F of PERSONAL HEALTH DIVISION
ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION E7�o DENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
P.O.Box 8181,3060 Revere RC. b" * ri P.O.Box 8181,300 W.Tryon St.
Hillsborough,N.C.27278 Hillsborough.N.C.27278
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HILLSBOROUGH CHAPEL HILL ���° MEBANE
(919)732$ Cac�181 (919)967-9251 ry DURHAM
(919)227-2032 (919)668-7333
Dear Orange County Resident,
From July 17, 1996 to April 1, 1997 Orange County Animal Control has confirmed
thirty (30) cases of terrestrial rabies in northern Orange County. Twenty-five (25) cases
were raccoons and five were skunks. Sixty-seven dogs and puppies were exposed or
suspected of having been exposed to these rabid animals. Of those, thirteen were not
vaccinated against rabies and had to be euthanized. Fifteen people were exposed or
suspected of having been exposed to the rabies virus in these thirty cases. Several of them
have undergone post exposure rabies treatment.
To our south, in Chatham County, 64 cases of rabies were confirmed this calendar
year. One of those rabid animals was a puppy. Many dogs, puppies, cats and kittens had
to be euthanized because they were not vaccinated when they were exposed. As of April
1 st, the closest case of rabies to Orange County is in Bynum, about eight miles south of
Starpoint. It will not be long before rabies is in southern Orange County.
Animal Control Officers are canvassing your area to remind dog and cat owners to
check to make sure their pets are currently vaccinated against rabies. Please check your
records or with your veterinarian to be sure your dogs and cats have a current valid rabies
vaccination.
Please call Animal Control for free pick up of stray, unwanted and/or unvaccinated
dogs and cats. Please call early in the week, whenever possible. To further protect your
family and pets, you should confine your dogs and cats to your property. Do not let them
run loose, especially at night.
Please remember also that animal control is continuing its pet licensing program in
1997. A county ordinance requires that all dogs and cats over 6 (six) months old must be
licensed by the county animal control division.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Sam
ohn Sauls
Animal Control Director
SOUTHERN ORANGE OFFICE: Carr Mill Mall, S019 225, 100 N.Greensboro St., Carrboro,N.C.27510, (919)9,2-4168
7
RABIES FACT SHEET
HOW DO PEOPLE AND PETS GET RABIES?
• The disease is spread mainly through bites but rabies can be passed by scratches from
an infected animal or when the saliva from an infected animal comes in contact with
open wounds or mucous membranes.
WHAT KINDS OF ANIMALS GET RABIES?
• All mammals can get rabies. Our current wildlife epidemic is mainly confined to
raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats. However, unvaccinated dogs and cats are highly
vulnerable to rabies.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FAMILY AND MY PETS FROM RABIES?
• Vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies.
• Avoid contact with all wild animals as well as all unfamiliar, injured or stray dogs,
puppies, cats and kittens.
• Secure your trash so that it does not attract animals.
• Do.not feed your pets outside. If you must, pick up food dish after 20 minutes.
• Call your veterinarian and animal control department if your pet is attacked by a wild
animal. Your pet must be Revaccinated within 72 hours.
• Report all animals bites to humans to the Orange County Animal Control.
• Confine your animals to your property. Do not let them run loose, especially at night.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM BITTEN OR SCRATCHED BY A WILD OR
STRAY ANIMAL OR PET?
• Wash the would thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Confine the biting animal, if possible. Call Orange County Animal Control
immediately.
• Kill the animal only as last resort -but do not damage its head. (Examination of the
brain tissue is the only way to confirm if the animal has rabies.)
• If the animal is a pet, get the owners name and address. Report this information to
Animal Control.
• Call your physician at once.
Orange County Animal Control -
1996
8
TIPS TO AVOID NON-BITE EXPOSURE TO RABIES
1. Wear waterproof gloves when handling a pet that has been injured in a fight
or when handling any object that has been touched, drooled on or chewed on
by a wild or stray animal.
2. Do not touch, feed or pick-up wildlife, stray animals or unfamiliar
domesticated animals, even if they seem friendly or healthy. Teach children
to do the same.
3. Don't let your pets roam free. If they are outside during the day, keep them
in a closed space or on a leash. Keep pets indoors at night.
4. Don't attract animals. Remove things they are looking for such as food,
water and/or shelter(e.g., garbage cans, dripping hoses, nail up any loose
boards.
5. If killing an animal that you suspect is rabid, don't aim for the head. The
brain is used for testing for rabies and if shot in the head it could splatter
infectious material.
6. Use a shovel to remove dead animals from a yard or a road. Then place the
body in a plastic bag and wash the shovel with a bleach and water solution
(four parts of water to one part bleach).
7. Disinfect areas that have been drooled on by strays or wildlife animals by
using a bleach and water solution (four parts of water to one part bleach).
S. If you suspect an animal has rabies, either domestic or wild, contact Animal
Control immediately.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, have contact with the animal!
What you should do if exposed:
Wash the wound with soap and water for 10 minutes. (This is very
important since it may effectively wash away the-rabies virus and thus prevent
infection). For eye, nose or mouth exposure, flush the. site with water for several
minutes.
After washing or rinsing the wound/exposure site, seek treatment from a
healthcare provider (e.g., physician, hospital) immediately. Do not wait for
symptoms to.show up!
9
ORANGE COUNTY
FRABIES
VACCINATION CLINICS FOR
DOGS and CATS
THURSDAY
APRIL 24 , 1997
SITE LOCATION TIME
Northern Recreation Center Hwy. 86 N 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Old Cedar Grove School
Central Orange County Hillsborough 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Hillsborough Courthouse
State law requires all dogs and cats four (4) months of age or older to be
vaccinated. Dogs and cats with GOLD COLOR and SILVER COLOR RABIES
TAGS must be re-vaccinated.
Local veterinarians will administer the vaccine at a reduced fee of $5.00 for
each dog or cat vaccinated. Dogs on LEASHES, cats in BOXES. The
vaccine will provide one (1) or three (3) years of protection, depending on the
age of the pet. -
ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL
NC:Rabies.Activity:-Report: Re ortfon.Decembe 1996_ 1
Section 1 December data summary:58 rabid animals
Ashe County-1 raccoon Harnett County-1 raccoon Person County-1 dog
Beaufort County-2 raccoons Hoke County-1 raccoon Person County-3 raccoons
Brunswick County-1 bobcat Johnston County-2 raccoons Person County-1 skunk
Brunswick County-1 cat Lee County-1 cat Rowan County-3 raccoons
Cabarrus County-1 raccoon Lee County-4 raccoons Rowan County-1 skunk
Caswell County-1 raccoon Lenoir County-2 raccoons- Sampson County-2 raccoons
Chatham County-t raccoon Moore County-5 raccoons Stanly County-1 raccoon
Columbus County-1 raccoon New Hanover County-1 raccoon Stanly County-1 skunk
Cumberland County-1 raccoon Onslow County-1 raccoon* Tyrrell County-2 raccoons'
Duplin County-1 raccoon Orange County-1 bat Wake County-2 raccoons
Durham County-1 raccoon Orange County-2 raccoons Washington County-1 fox
Granville County-2 raccoons Orange County-3 skunks Wayne County-2 raccoons
=1st terrestrial animal
Section 2 Year-To-Date(December 31)Rabies Summary
Bat Bobcat Cat Cow Dog Fox Groundhog Horse Rabbit Raccoon Skunk total
Alle h ny 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 1 7
Anson 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Ashe 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 2 10
Beaufort 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 25 0 30
Bertie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Bladen 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1
Brunswick 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 10
Cabarrus 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 16 3 24
Camden 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Caswell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 5
Chatham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4
Columbus 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 0 9
Cumberland . 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 27 0 36
Currituck 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Du lin 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 0 12
Durham 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 10
Franklin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2
Gaston 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 3
Granville 0 ! 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 16 2 22
Greene 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Guilford 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Halifax 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 1 0 1
Harnett --0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 1 47 0 57
Hertford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Hoke 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 ! 0 8 0 8
Hyde 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 j 0 2 0 2
Iredell 0 i 0 0 0 ! 1 1 0 I 0 0 3 6 11
Johnston 0 I 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 I 0 20 0 22
Lee 0 ! 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 15 0 20
Lenoir 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 0 0 2 0 2
Lincoln 0 0 1 0 I 0 2 I 0 0 I 0 1 1 0 1 4
Martin 0 0 i 0 ! 0 0 0 0 ! 0 0 1 1 ! 0 1
Mecklenburg ! 0 I 0 1 0 ! 0 5 I 0 0 0 4 1 11 _
Montgomery ! 0 0 0 0 0 i 0 i 0 0 0 4 0 4
Moore 0 i 0 0 0 ! 1 5 0 0 0 70 i 0 76
Nash 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ! 0 3 0 3
New Hanover 0 2 ! 0 0 0 ! 2 0 _! 0 0 15 0 _ 19 0 0 4 0 4
Northampton 0 0 0 ; 0 0 0 0 !
Onslow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —� 0 0 1 �_ 1
Orange 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 3 19 11
Pas uotank 0 0 0 0 i 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1
0 1
Pender 0 0 j 2 i 0 I 0 j 0 0 0 i 0 I 19 I 0 21
Perquimans j 0 0 0 0 f 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 T 0 1
Person 1 0 j 1 J 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 34 8 47
Pitt 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 ! 13 j 0 16
Randolph 1 1 0 ; 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2
Robeson 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 j 5 1 0 5
Rockingham i 0 0 0 i 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 2 0 2
Rowan 0 ; 0 ! 0 0 1 0 6 I 0 0 0 28 ! 9 43
Sampson 0 I 0 2 0 2 0 0 j 0 0 28 I 0 32
Scotland 0 I 0 ; 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Stanly 0 0 1 0 j 0 3 0 0 0 14 I 5 23
Tyrrell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Union j 1 I 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 f 2 2 6
Vance 0 0 0 F 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 1 0 1
Wake 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0 48
Warren 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Washington 0 0 I 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 7
Wayne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 13
Wilson i 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6
total 121 6 1 29 1 1 10 50 1 3 1 581 46 740
1995 Comparison to date 466
1994 Comparison to date 175
Section 3 Historical Data
Last dog case: 1996 (November)- Person County
Last cat case: 1996 (October) Sampson County(2)
Last cow case: 1996(August)-Union County
Last horse case: 1996(September)-Lee County
1995 Rabies data: 362 raccoons, 11 bats,52 foxes, 15 cats,23 skunks, 1 cow, 1 horse, 1 dog
1994 Rabies data: 143 raccoons,7 bats,8 foxes,4 cats,8 skunks,1 cow,1 horse,3 bobcats
1993 Rabies data: 71 raccoons, 15 bats,7 foxes,8 cats,3 skunks,2 dogs
1992 Rabies data: 30 raccoons, 13 bats,5 foxes, 1 cat, 1 skunk
1991 Rabies data: 12 raccoons, 10 bats, 1 fox, 1 cat
1990 Rabies data: 6 bats,4 skunks
. 12
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Scott Grover,of the N.C.'Laboratory of Public Health;.makas impressions' f '
for microscopic examination from suspected Fabld animal,tissue
STAR PHOTO BY ANDREW TUCKER r�
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A 9trowing e�p i d e
Rabies has swept through much of the Eastern LMi#ad States: It
spread into North Carolina from Virginia and South Carolina.
Now, 59 of N.C.'s 100 counties are reporting cases. So far there ,fit
have been few reported in the western part of the state.
A took at rabies in N.C. 4,676 �
Number of specimens tested ,_ 4
,. +�
Number of confirmed laboratory cases 3,41 b ♦���I -'�. ��
2,444 2,389
2,134
1,848 - P�,_ M1;V
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190 191 '92 193 '94 '95,. 96, '97'
Rabies taxin g s resources
BY JAY PRICE prevention are struggling to keep up.
STAFF WR,TER Agencies struggle "I am stretched beyond the limit,"said
Since New Year's Day,23 animals have Lee Hunter, a public health veterinari-
tested positive for rabies in Chatham to track disease an."We are trying not to let anything drop,
County. But the county's animal control but when you have to prioritize, some-
supervisor,Randee Linke,says she can't times you don't get to some things as
swear to that figure because it seems to counties and shows no signs of slowing. quickly as you'd like."
change by the hour. State health officials expect to record 1,500 Before the epidemic,state government
"I've got tests pending on six(animals] positive tests this'year,up from only nine devoted only modest resources to its agen-
right now,and the day is young,"she said in 1990. cies that fight rabies: Hunter's Raleigh
Wednesday morning. Worse yet,rabies is creeping into the office,which dispenses information on the
Chatham has plenty of company.Since pet and livestock populations,where con- deadly disease,and the Laboratory of Pub-
an epidemic began in 1991,the deadly dis- tact with humans ss more likely to occur.
ease has spread to 59 of the state's 100 The state's front-line agencies for rabies SEE RABIES, PAGE 1 6A
14
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Rabies epidemic spreading
State health officials said last
week that the rabies epidemic —
which began in 1991 —has spread
to 59 of the state's 100 counties.
And there are no signs that it is
slowing down.
State health officials say they
expect to record 1,500 positive
tests this year, up from nine in
1990.
Far from just a wild animal
problem, rabies, they say, is
creeping into the livestock and
pet population, where contact
with humans is more likely to
occur.
That reality is keeping the
state's front-line agencies for
rabies struggling to keep up and
taxing resources—so much so
that Hunt's proposed budget con-
ktains $100,000 to hire another
state veterinarian and pay for
rabies educational materials. Half
of the money may come from
adding a nickel to the 2.5 cents
that the state charges veterinari-
ans for each pet rabies tag.
For the full version of these
stories,you,can search the
archives on Nando.net,the
N&j's online service,or use
the paper's research service PISYS IQ.
See page 2A for information.
16
April 7, 1997
Senator R. L. Martin
Legislative Office Building
300 North Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Dear Senator Martin,
I am writing to encourage your support for the addition of a second Public Health
Veterinarian in the Division of Epidemiology of the Department of Environment,
Health, and Natural Resources. Funding for this additional position will be
considered in the Expansion Budget for the department. As I understand the
proposed funding, the additional cost would be partially covered by appropriated
funds and partially by an increase in charges for rabies tags.
Dr. Lee Hunter is currently the only Public Health Veterinarian in the department
and the rabies epidemic has significantly increased his workload. Dr. Hunter is
the foremost North Carolina authority on incidence of rabies in different
geographic areas and in different animal species. He is constantly involved in
discussions with practicing physicians and health department officials regarding
decisions to provide post exposure treatment to people that have had animal bites
or other contacts. He has consulted on this subject with ECU physicians on many
cases and has assisted them in determining the advisability of treating
individual patients. I have been consulted on rabies treatment by local
physicians and have contacted Dr. Hunter on several questionable cases. Dr.
Harry Adams, of the Department of Medicine, and I have presented rabies talks to
several physician groups and we find that Lee Hunter has also been consulted by
many primary care physicians in Eastern North Carolina as the epidemic has spread
through our area. One physician in an eastern county related the story of Dr.
Hunter arranging for delivery, by the Highway Patrol, of rabies vaccine for
treatment of a child on a weekend.
In addition to consultation on treatment, Dr. Hunter is a valuable resource for
us in providing up-to-date information on rabies cases by county and species of
animal. Dr. Adams and I have used this information in speaking to physician
organizations, medical school faculty meetings, and to medical students. Lee
has also visited the School of Medicine and co-presented an extensive discussion
of rabies with Dr. Tim Monroe (past Director of Pitt County Health Department)
when the epidemic first moved into this area.
In addition to rabies, Dr. Hunter is involved in statewide studies of other
diseases of animals that are transmissible to humans. He is currently part of
investigations of Q-Fever (a bacterial disease of sheep) and Brucellosis (a
bacterial disease of cattle and swine -- also called Undulant Fever in humans) .
He has investigated various other diseases of humans when the sources of the
infections were thought to be pets, wild animals or livestock. As you know, his
Division is primarily concerned with human health and he is resg Bible for
investigating the animal aspect when it is appropriate.
Dr. Hunter contributes significantly to maintenance and improvement of human
health in North Carolina. He is over extended with the rabies epidemic and we
don't see that work load lessening in the next few years. The addition of a
second veterinarian in that office is strongly recommended and I encourage your
support. As always, your consideration is appreciated.
17 .
Sincerely,
William H. Pryor, Jr., D.V.M., M.S.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Comparative Medicine
School of Medicine
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
Same letter sent to Senator Ed N. Warren