Broome County Rabies Program is a partnership of the Broome County Health Department, primary care providers, veterinarians, hospital emergency rooms, animal control agents, and Broome County residents. Our goal is to prevent human disease and unnecessary human treatment by preventing exposure to rabies.

• During the latest 5 year time span, each municipality in Broome County has had at least one mammal test positive for rabies.
• Mammals are sent for testing only if a human, pet or domestic livestock exposure has occurred.
• All Broome County residents should avoid all wild animals and stray pets at all times. Not all have rabies, but you can't tell which ones don't just by looking.
• Broome County residents and medical providers report all bites or exposures to the Broome County Health Department Division of Environmental Health Services during normal business (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 607.778.2887. After hour emergencies can be reported to the Broome County Dispatcher at 607.778.1911. They will contact a Health Department staff member who can provide guidance.
• Refer to the attached Rabies: What to Do brochure for further information on how to prevent exposure to rabies.
• Vaccinate your pets and valuable livestock. Unvaccinated animals exposed to wild animals must be confined for 6 months at a veterinarian shelter.

Rabies: What To Do
If you see a wild animal, especially a raccoon, bat, skunk or fox:

• Stay away and keep your children away.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Let the animal go away on its own.
• You may call a nuisance wildlife control officer who will remove the animal for a fee.

If the animal is threatening people or pets:

• Call your county health authority who will likely refer you to a local animal control officer or the local police.
• Call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation during business hours.

If your pet is exposed to an animal that might be rabid:

• Wear gloves to handle your pet. Saliva from the rabid animal may be on your pet's fur.
• Isolate your pet from other animals and people for several hours.
• Call your county health authority for advice.
• Call your veterinarian. Vaccinated pets will need a rabies booster shot within five days of the attack.
• An unvaccinated pet must be quarantined for six months or humanely destroyed.

Precautions to take:

• Vaccinate your dogs and cats.
• Do not feed, touch or adopt wild or stray animals.
• Tightly cap garbage cans. Do not attract animals to your home or yard.
• Feed pets indoors and never leave them outdoors unattended.
• Keep a pair of work gloves handy in case your pet is attacked.

Rabies: What To Do If Bitten
. . . By a Wild Animal

1. Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and running water.
2. Capture the animal, if possible, so it can be tested. Take care to prevent additional bites or damage to the animal's head.
3. Get medical attention. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room.
4. Call your county health authority.
5. DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE.
6. If necessary, a dead animal may be kept on ice, double bagged in plastic, until it can be tested. Always wear gloves, use a shovel and clean the area and tools with one part bleach to 10 parts water. Keep the dead animal in a protected area away from people and other animals.

. . . By a Pet Dog or Cat

1. Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and running water.
2. Obtain the pet's owner's name, address, telephone number. Find out if the animal has a current rabies vaccination and write down the rabies tag number.
3. Get medical attention. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room.
4. Call your county health authority.

Have this information ready:

• type and description of animal including any features or marks;
• if it was a pet, whether it wore a collar, tags and where it lives;
• how the bite occurred;
• whether the animal has been seen in the area before and what direction it was traveling.

Rabies Related Health Links

• NYSDOH Rabies Information
• NYSDOH Rabies Fact Sheet
• Rabies: What to Do Brochure
• Rabies Clinics
• Rabies Clinics (printable)
• Mammals Tested Positive for Rabies