Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 173 - CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE › Chapter 5 - RABIES CONTROL PROGRAM › Section 173-5-003 - RABIES CONTROL

Current through June 17, 2024
Rabies control requirements are as follows:
003.01
DOMESTIC ANIMALS THAT HAVE
				BITTEN A PERSON.
Any domestic animal which is owned by a person
				and has bitten any person or caused an abrasion of the skin of any person must
				be seized by the rabies control authority for a period of not less than ten
				days if the animal is suspected of having rabies or is not vaccinated. If,
				after observation and examination by a veterinarian, at the end of the ten-day
				period the animal shows no clinical signs of rabies, the animal may be released
				to its owner.
003.02
VACCINATED ANIMALS THAT HAVE BITTEN A PERSON.
Whenever
				any person has been bitten or has an abrasion of the skin caused by domestic
				animal owned by another person, which animal has been vaccinated in accordance
				with this chapter, the animal must be confined and observed by the owner or
				other responsible person, as required by the rabies control authority, for a
				period of at least ten days and must be examined by a veterinarian at the end
				of the ten-day period. If no clinical signs of rabies are found by the
				veterinarian, the animal may be released from confinement.
003.03
LAW ENFORCEMENT OR
				GOVERNMENT AGENCY ANIMALS THAT HAVE BITTEN A PERSON.
A vaccinated
				domestic animal that bites or causes an abrasion of the skin of any person
				during training or the performance of the animal's duties must be observed for
				a period of at least ten days, during which time the agency must maintain
				ownership, control, and supervision of the animal. Any animal showing any signs
				of illness during the ten days must be examined by a veterinarian.
003.04
UNOWNED ANIMALS THAT HAVE
				BITTEN A PERSON.
Any domestic animal which has bitten a person or
				caused an abrasion of the skin of a person and the ownership of which cannot be
				determined within 72 hours of the time of the bite or abrasion or is a stray or
				unwanted, must be euthanized, and the head or entire brain, including the
				brainstem, must be submitted for testing. The 72-hour period includes holidays
				and weekends and must not be extended for any reason.
003.05
VACCINATION IN
				CONFINEMENT.
Rabies vaccine must not be administered to any
				domestic animal during a 10-day observation period to avoid confusing rare
				adverse vaccine reactions with signs of rabies.
003.06
ILLNESS IN CONFINED
				ANIMALS.
Any illness in a domestic animal being confined and
				observed for rabies must be reported immediately to the Department or local
				rabies control authority. Such animals must be evaluated by a veterinarian at
				the first sign of illness during confinement. If signs suggestive of rabies
				develop, the animal must be euthanized, and the head or entire brain, including
				the brainstem, must be submitted for testing unless the Department advises
				otherwise.
003.07
EXPOSURE TO RABIES BY OTHER ANIMALS.
Other animals
				that might have exposed a person to rabies must be reported immediately to the
				local rabies control authority who may consult the Department. Management of
				such animals depends on the species as, the shedding period for rabies virus is
				undetermined for most species. Previous vaccination might not preclude the
				necessity for euthanasia and testing.
003.08
EXPOSURE BY RABID
				ANIMALS.
In the case of domestic animals or livestock known to
				have been bitten by or exposed to a confirmed or suspect rabid animal, the
				following rules apply:
003.08(A)
ANIMALS REGARDED AS RABID.
Wild mammalian carnivores,
				skunks, and bats that are not available or suitable for testing must be
				regarded as rabid.
003.08(B)
UNVACCINATED DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK.
If the
				domestic animal has never been vaccinated in accordance with Section 002 or is
				unvaccinated livestock, it must be immediately destroyed unless the owner is
				willing to place the animal in strict quarantine under veterinary supervision
				for a period of not less than six months. If dogs or cats receive rabies
				vaccination within 96 hours of the exposure, at the time of entry into
				quarantine, the quarantine period may be reduced to 4 months. Strict quarantine
				in this context refers to confinement in an enclosure that precludes direct
				contact with people and other animals.
003.08(C)
VACCINATED
				ANIMALS.
Livestock current on rabies vaccination with a United
				States Department of Agriculture-licensed vaccine approved for that species or
				a domestic animal that has been vaccinated in accordance with Section 002 or is
				overdue for booster vaccination but has appropriate documentation of having
				received a United States Department of Agriculture-licensed rabies vaccine at
				least once previously, are subject to the following procedures:
(i) The animal must immediately receive
				veterinary medical care for assessment, wound cleansing, and booster rabies
				vaccination. The animal must be kept under the owner's control and observed for
				45 days;
(ii) If the animal is not
				revaccinated within 96 hours of the exposure, it must be confined in strict
				quarantine under the supervision of a veterinarian and managed as unvaccinated
				in accordance with Section
				003.08(B); or
(iii) The animal must be destroyed
				if the owner does not comply with either item (i) or (ii) above.
003.08(D)
ANIMALS
				OVERDUE FOR BOOSTER VACCINATION.
If the animal is overdue for a
				booster vaccination and is without appropriate documentation of having received
				a United States Department of Agriculture-licensed rabies vaccine at least once
				previously, the animal must immediately receive veterinary medical care for
				assessment wound cleansing, and be managed as directed by the Department.
(i) A domestic animal may be treated as
				unvaccinated, immediately given a booster vaccination, and placed in strict
				quarantine in accordance with Section
				003.08(B); or
(ii) Prior to booster vaccination,
				the attending veterinarian will consult the Department in the possible use of
				prospective serologic monitoring and subsequent management of the domestic
				animal as the Department directs,
(iii) Livestock overdue for a booster
				vaccination must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and managed as directed
				by the Department.