The appropriate public health official of the state of destination should be notified within 72 hours of any unvaccinated dog or cat imported into his or her jurisdiction. The conditional admission of such animals into the US is subject to state and local laws governing rabies. Failure to comply with these requirements should be promptly reported to the Division of Quarantine, CDC, Tel. Prior to interstate movement, dogs, cats, and ferrets should be currently vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the Compendium s recommendations. Adjunct Procedures Registration or licensure of all dogs, cats, and ferrets may aid in rabies control.
Vaccination is an essential prerequisite to licensure.
Any animal potentially exposed to rabies virus by a wild carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for six months and vaccinated one month before release. Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner s control, and observed for 45 days. Livestock exposed to a rabid animal and currently vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the USDA for that species should be revaccinated immediately and observed for 45 days.