Rabid Dog Shots for Shelter Workers

A newly published case history highlights the importance of rabies vaccinations for pets and animal shelter workers. The report details a situation involving a stray dog found in rustic Minnesota and taken to a North Dakota animal shelter in March 2010. When it was later learned that the dog had rabies, public health officials began an investigation using animal shelter records and a public announcement to identify people and animals who may have had contact with the rabid dog.

As a result, post-exposure rabies vaccine was given to 21 people, including nine animal shelter workers and one volunteer. Because of possible contact with the rabid dog, 36 dogs were euthanized, including some that had been housed with the rabid animal and others that might have been bare and were not up-to-date on their rabies shots. As of December 2010, there had been no reported cases of rabies in any of the humans or dogs included in the investigation. Rabies is a fatal disease. Animal shelter workers who may come into contact with rabid animals should consider receiving rabies injection before starting their duties, the report authors recommended.