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MEDIA RELEASE
November 3, 2022
Public health inspectors seek cooperation in the investigation of animal bites
It takes only a few minutes of your time to assist in an investigation that will reduce the risk of someone being infected with rabies, a virus that is always fatal.
Under Ontario’s Health Promotion and Protection Act, public health is legislated to investigate all reported animal exposures, such as bites or scratches, to ensure that the person who has been injured is not at risk of developing rabies.
The first step is identifying the animal that caused the bite or scratch and determining whether the animal has rabies.
“When one of our Public Health Inspectors reaches out to you about your animal’s involvement in what we call an ‘animal exposure,’ we ask that you respond quickly and truthfully to their questions,” says Amy Pavletic, Program Manager of Environmental Health at Southwestern Public Health.
“They are not aiming to take away your animal, fine you, or report you. Instead, they want to ensure your animal is healthy - for your benefit and that of the person who was injured,” she adds.
The first step is a visual inspection of the animal in its home environment. The next will see you monitoring the animal’s health, in your own home, for a period of ten days. If the animal is observed to be healthy at the end of the 10-days, this means that the person who was injured does not need to start a series of painful, expensive, and unnecessary rabies shots.
Rabies is a virus that spreads through the saliva of animals. It affects an animal’s brain and is always fatal. Humans exposed to a rabid animal will require post-exposure vaccines to avoid deadly consequences. The vaccine is administered via a series of needles by a primary care provider over a course of several weeks.
About Southwestern Public Health
Southwestern Public Health works with its partners to ensure the health of the whole community. Our programs respond to public health emergencies; promote healthy lifestyles; help prevent injuries, illness, and disease in the community; and promote positive change and social conditions that improve health. Southwestern Public Health delivers mandated programs under the Ontario Public Health Standards and is regulated by the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act. The health unit maintains primary locations in Woodstock and St. Thomas. For more information, visit www.swpublichealth.ca.
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