Animal Bite Management & Rabies

About the Program

This program works with local animal control and law enforcement in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS, to limit opportunities for human rabies exposure.

Animal control officers or law enforcement start an initial investigation into the possibility of rabies exposure and determine the best course of action depending on the likelihood that rabies exposure occurred. Domestic pets, like dogs, cats, or ferrets, that have bitten a person or been bitten themselves will be monitored for a set period in a designated location. If the animal is determined to be non-rabid following the completed observation period, it will be returned to its owner. If you are worried about an animal in your area that may be rabid or has bitten someone, please get in touch with the local animal control office where the bite or exposure occurred.

The Communicable Disease Control program works with local animal control officers, law enforcement, veterinarians, and hospitals to track humans and animals with possible rabies exposure. Together with animal control officers or law enforcement, they determine the nature of the exposure and create management plans for the animal and the victim. The Communicable Disease Control program also partners with hospitals and healthcare providers to assess the need for prophylaxis following an incident. Positive rabies cases in Wyandotte County are reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health surveillance purposes.

Unified Government Code of Ordinance

Information for Animal Control & Medical Providers

• KDHE Rabies Exposure Assessment Algorithm
• Rabies Exposure Determination Form
  The first form to be filled out by an animal control officer, veterinarian, and/or healthcare provider to provide the information needed to determine if a potential rabies exposure has occurred.
  
  
• Rabies Investigation Form
  Form to be filled out by an animal control officer, Veterinarian, and/or Healthcare Provider if a potential rabies exposure has occurred.
  
  Provoked Bite
  A bite is inflicted by a healthy animal while a human is trying to handle or feed the animal.
  
  KDHE Example
  • Bites by an injured animal
  • Bites by an animal protecting “their space”
  • Bites by an unfamiliar or non-domesticated animal a person was interacting with.

Information for the General Public

• Rabies Facts & Prevention(PDF, 508KB)
• Rabies Prevention Video