Section 2606 - Rabies, Animal(a) Reporting. Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies shall report the facts immediately to the local health officer. The health officer shall likewise be notified of any person or animal bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal. In those areas declared by the Director of the State Department of Health Services to be rabies areas (See Section 1901.2, California Health and Safety Code) the local health officer shall be notified when any person is bitten by an animal of a species subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies.
(b) Isolation. Any rabid animal, clinically suspected rabid animal, or biting animal shall be isolated in strict confinement as follows:(1) Isolation of Rabid Animals or Clinically Suspected Rabid Animals. Any rabid animal or clinically suspected rabid animal shall be isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under the observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a pound, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the local health officer, except where such responsibility has been delegated to a comparable officer by the governing body, and shall not be killed or released for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies, with the exception that such animals may be sacrificed with permission of the local health officer for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in an approved public health laboratory.(2) Isolation of Biting Animals. At the discretion of the local health officer, any animal which bites or otherwise exposes a person shall be isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the local health officer and observed for at least 14 days (dogs and cats 10 days) after the day of infliction of the bite, with the exception that the following alternative to the 10 day isolation of dogs and cats is permitted--dogs or cats which have been isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a pound, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the local health officer, may be released from isolation by the local health officer after five days of veterinary observation if upon conducting a thorough physical examination on the fifth day or more after infliction of the bite, the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any disease. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a local health officer may authorize, with permission of the owner and other legal restrictions permitting, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in an approved public health laboratory.(3) Isolation of Biting Animals in Officially Declared Rabies Areas. In officially declared rabies areas (see Section 1901.2, California Health and Safety Code) the isolation described in paragraph (2) above shall be mandatory for any animal of a species subject to rabies that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person, with the exception of rodents (members of the order Rodentia) and rabbits and hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).(4) Laboratory Examination of Rabid Animals, Clinically Suspected Rabid Animals or Biting Animals Which Die or Have Been Killed. If any rabid animal, clinically suspected rabid animal or biting animal dies or has been killed, adequate specimens shall be obtained and examined in a public health laboratory approved by the department. No person shall destroy or allow to be destroyed the brain of an animal of a species subject to rabies that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person before the destruction of such brain has been authorized by the local health department; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph (4) shall not apply to rodents (members of the order Rodentia) and rabbits or hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).(c) Animal Contacts. Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the local health officer, except where such responsibility has been delegated to a comparable officer by the local governing body, for a period of six months or destroyed, with the exception that the following alternatives are permitted in the case of dogs and cats as follows: (1) If a dog over one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within 36 months but not less than 30 days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the Department for a maximum immunity duration of at least 36 months, the dog may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Department and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the local health officer for a period of 30 days following revaccination.(2) If a dog under one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within 12 months but not less than 30 days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the Department, the dog may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Department and quarantined in a place and a manner approved by the local health officer for a period of 30 days.(3) If a cat has been vaccinated within one year but not less than 30 days with an annual type feline rabies vaccine or if a cat has been vaccinated under one year of age with a 36-month type of feline rabies vaccine within 12 months but not less than 30 days, the cat may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Department and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the local health officer for a period of 30 days following revaccination.(4) If a cat over one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies and has been vaccinated within 36 months and more than 30 days with a 36-month type feline rabies vaccine, the cat may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Department and quarantined in a place and manner approved by a local health officer for a 30-day period following revaccination.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 2606
1. Amendment filed 5-5-71; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 71, No. 19). For prior history see Register 65, No. 8.
2. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 5-20-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 21).
3. Amendment filed 1-27-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 5). Note: Authority cited: Sections 208, 1905 and 3123, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907 and 3123, Health and Safety Code.
1. Amendment filed 5-5-71; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 71, No. 19). For prior history see Register 65, No. 8.
2. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 5-20-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 21).
3. Amendment filed 1-27-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 5).