Board of Health passes rabies rules
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 16, 2016 10:09 AM
The Wayne County Board of Health passed a rule for rabies postexposure management for dogs and cats Wednesday, without discussion or public input.
A public hearing had been announced in advance, but no one showed up to weigh in or ask questions.
Board chairman Bob Cagle, read the proposed rule, recommended by the N.C. Division of Public Health.
"This model rule for rabies postexposure management of dogs and cats implements and particularizes the authority given to the local health director in G.S. 130A-197 to effectively and efficiently protect the public's health utilizing the most current science," he read. "Accordingly, the Wayne County Board of Health adopts the recommendations and guidelines for rabies postexposure management of dogs and cats specified by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians in the 2016 edition of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control."
When the board had introduced the issue at its August meeting, several said that the proposed changes are expected to result in fewer dogs and cats being euthanized. It allows for shorter quarantine periods -- four months rather than six -- and for more 45-day owner (at home) observations for lapsed animals with appropriate documentation.
"As I understand it, what this rule does, and it will apply countywide in Wayne County, is it basically gives the authority to the director of the Board of Health to use their discretion on how to deal with the confinement of any animal that may come into question with possible biting anybody or what have you, and will take precedence over the current statutes that are just sort of more fixed and cast in concrete," Cagle said Wednesday. "It gives the health director the discretion to talk with veterinarians, the animal control people, to see what is the best solution for dealing with an animal that may have come into contact, as we say, had a risk exposure."
In the absence of public comment, Cagle asked for a motion that the board approve the proposed ruling. There was no discussion and the eight members in attendance all voted in favor.
"The rule is now in effect," Cagle said.