Zoonotic Disease Community:
Earlier this month we issued a news release
regarding the state-wide requirement for rabies vaccinations for cats, dogs,
and ferrets starting January 1st. The story received wide
media coverage ranging from local weekly papers to television news and the
associated press. During this time we have talked to many reporters fielding
many questions.
The question we have been asked most frequently is: How is
it enforced? I want to share some information with you on this topic to
help clarify how this works.
At the state level there are statutes (laws) in the form of the
Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and there are rules in the form of the Washington
Administrative Code (WAC). The legislature creates the RCWs and the
agencies and boards create the WACs. The Washington State Board of Health
(BOH) oversees state rules related to the Department of Health. Many
people simply refer to RCWs and WACs interchangeably as state laws.
In the new rabies vaccination rule there is no enforcement at
the state level. As with many BOH rules, this new rule provides local
government with a regulatory tool to adopt to protect public health. Any penalties
for not vaccinating would be the result of a violation of a local code. Many
local jurisdictions already require proof of vaccination as a condition of pet
license requirements.
The cost of a rabies vaccination ranges from about $7 to
$20. Boosters are needed every three years.
I also want to make you aware of the decision matrix that is
used state-wide by state and local health officials to evaluate suspected
rabies exposures. It is located at http://www.doh.wa.gov/Notify/other/rabiesalg.pdf.
Pet vaccination is an inexpensive and important action
people can take to help protect their pets, family and the public.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel
free to contact me if you want more information.
Wayne Clifford
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ZD News - West Nile Virus - Pesticide Illness - Salud Pesticidas
__________________________________________________________________
Wayne Clifford, Manager
Office of Environmental Health, Safety, and Toxicology
Pesticide Illness and Zoonotics Disease Surveillance and
Prevention
Washington State Department of Health
PO Box 47846
Olympia WA 98504-7846
Phone 360-236-3181
Improving People's Health by Reducing Exposures to Environmental
Hazards
