Due to the risk of rabies, environmental health is tasked with investigating all animal encounters resulting in a bite or scratch. Rabies is a contagious viral disease associated with mammals that is fatal once symptoms have developed. All animal encounters resulting in a scratch or bite shall be reported to the health department for investigation. Members of the public are encouraged to seek prompt medical care and it is crucial that the health department is promptly notified of the incident. If the risk of rabies cannot be conclusively ruled out, you are strongly encouraged to discuss rabies vaccination with your medical provider. Please see the following documents for an animal encounter submission form and an animal encounter flow chart.
Medical providers or members of the public with questions regarding treatment protocols are encouraged to contact the West Virginia Office of Epidemiology & Prevention Services. The 24 hour on-call epidemiologist can be reached at (800) 423-1271.
Members of the public wishing to have an animal tested for the rabies virus may deliver the specimen to the health department. The specimen will be shipped to the state lab in Charleston, West Virginia. The health department does not have the capability to remove the animal's head as required by the state lab. Specimens must be taken to a veterinarian's office or other qualified individual to have the head removed prior to delivery to the health department. For larger animals, such as sheep, cattle, or horses, the brain of the animal must be removed from the head prior to delivery to the health department. Please note it is not possible to test a live animal for rabies.