Animal Bite Reporting
Christian County Health Department works with local authorities and health care providers to prevent rabies in the community. For animal bites or after-hour emergencies, please call your local police department or the Sheriff’s department.
Animal Bite Reporting
What to do if You Have Been Bitten by an Animal?
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Contact your local police department or Sheriff’s office to report the bite.
Call the Taney County Health Department for information about tetanus and rabies prevention.
If owner of animal, be prepared to provide current vaccination/veterinarian records for the animals involved.
Tetanus shot MUST be given within 72 hours of the bite if you’re not current on the vaccination.
Bite wounds have a high risk of infection, antibiotic treatment may be required and you will need to be seen by a medical provider.
If the animal is not available for quarantine or rabies testing, rabies post exposure prophylaxis may be required. Talk to your provider for further recommendations.
Post exposure vaccine for rabies is a four-dose series, given on
The day of exposure
Day 3 after exposure
Day 7 after exposure
Day 14 after exposure
Once a bite report is received, all parties will be contacted for details about the incident and a rabies prevention investigation will begin.
If the animal is available, a 10-day quarantine process will begin at the animal shelter, veterinarian’s office, or a home quarantine under certain circumstances.
On the 1st, 5th and 10th day of quarantine, an Animal Control officer or designee will make contact to ensure all parties are still well.
On the 10th day, provided all parties are still well, quarantine will end and the animal will be released to their owner(s).
The owner of the animal may be required to have their animal vaccinated for rabies at a veterinarian’s office after the end of the quarantine.