PUBLIC NOTICE: Revised Tioga County Rabies Control Order for Unrestricted Public Contact

Last Updated: 6/20/2024

The following is the revised Tioga County Rabies Control Order for Unrestricted Public Contact which was approved as written by the Tioga County Board of Health today, June 20, 2024.

This Order will be posted for public comment for fourteen (14) days prior to its final acceptance.
Please email any comments or questions regarding the revised Order to BOH@tiogacountyny.gov.

RABIES CONTROL for UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC CONTACT

 PREAMBLE

On May 20, 1999 the Tioga County Board of Health adopted Board of Health Order 599, which set forth the rules and regulations for Exhibitors seeking to exhibit mammals to the public.

This Board of Health Order is adopted to continue the protections offered to the public by Board of Health Order 599, when public contact is not restricted.

Under this Order, the Exhibitor may allow unrestricted public contact and must comply with all the rules set forth to exhibit.

        I. DEFINITIONS

For this Board of Health Order, the following definitions must be used:

Mammals - All mammalian species excluding humans and small rodents such as Rabbits, Mice, Rats, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Chinchilla, Squirrels, and Chipmunks.

Domestic Mammals - Mammals living closely in the care of humans. Domestic mammals include livestock and pets such as Dogs, Cats.

Domestic Livestock –Mammals commonly cared for in agricultural settings to provide food, fiber and to be beasts of burden for humans. Cattle, Horses, Donkeys, Mules, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Llamas, Alpacas and other domestic Cervidae are commonly described as domestic livestock.

Wild Mammals (Wildlife, Undomesticated Mammals) – Mammals that live independently of humans, usually in natural conditions.

Captive Wildlife – Wild Mammal species being confined by licensed wildlife rehabilitators, zoos, and other wildlife exhibitors where no direct contact with the public is allowed.

Nervous tissue - Tissue that makes up the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nerve system.

Contact – Direct Contact between a human and or another mammal with the mouth, saliva, or nervous tissue of another mammal.

On-Label Rabies Vaccination – USDA licensed rabies vaccine administered by a licensed veterinarian, or licensed veterinary technician under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, to domestic mammal species approved on the manufacturer’s label.

Off-Label Rabies Vaccination – USDA licensed rabies vaccine administered by a licensed veterinarian, or licensed veterinary technician under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, to a domestic mammal species not approved on the manufacturer’s label.

Proof of Rabies Vaccination - A statement signed by the licensed veterinarian administering or supervising the administering of rabies vaccine. The following information must be included: name and address of the owner/exhibitor, vaccinated mammal’s identification, species, date vaccine administered, age, name of product used, type of vaccine administered, and duration of immunity. The statement must also include the name, address, and license number of the veterinarian signing the statement.

The proof of rabies vaccination for domestic livestock may include multiple animals on a single form but only one species per form. The current New York State (NYS) approved method of identification for domestic livestock must be used.

Exhibit - To display or present a mammal where direct public contact can occur, including competition or racing.

Exhibitor - The individual owner, their representative or the entity placing the mammal on exhibit.

Public - members of the human population openly and intentionally invited to an exhibit.

Human Exposure - The potential or actual contact or transmission of a mammal’s saliva into the body of a human. Transmission can occur by means of a bite, scratch, abrasion, open wound, nerve tissue, or contamination of the human mucous membrane.

         II. APPLICATION

This order applies to those exhibits, events, and venues within Tioga County where mammals are exhibited to the public. Exhibitors must not exhibit any mammal(s) within Tioga County unless all the requirements of section III are met.

        III. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITION

   A. Rabies vaccination of mammals to be exhibited.         

1. All domestic mammals over four (4) months of age must be vaccinated using a USDA licensed rabies vaccine.
2. Wild mammals (wildlife, undomestic mammals) – These species, are considered ineligible for rabies vaccination and should not be exhibited in direct contact with the public.
3. Initial rabies vaccination for domestic mammals - Initial (first-time) rabies vaccination must be administered no less than 14 days and no more than 364 days prior to being exhibited.
4. Revaccination of domestic mammals:
   1. On-Label Rabies Vaccination - species must be revaccinated following vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations.
   2. Off-Label Rabies Vaccination - species must be revaccinated within 365 days of a previous rabies vaccination.

  B. Provide proof of Rabies Vaccination:

1. All mammals presented for exhibit must be accompanied with proof of rabies vaccination.    
2. Proof of rabies vaccination must clearly identify the mammal vaccinated.
3. Proof of rabies vaccination must continue to be available to Tioga County Public Health on request during the exhibit and up to six (6) months following the exhibit.

  C. Surveillance of exhibited mammals.

1. Mammals exhibited must be under daily surveillance by the exhibitor throughout the exhibit and for fourteen (14) days after the exhibit.
2. Market animals sold at auction must be under daily surveillance by responsible personnel from time of auction to the time of processing.
3. If an exhibited animal becomes ill or dies during this surveillance period, the exhibitor or responsible surveillance personnel must report these facts to Tioga County Public Health immediately.
4. The ill or deceased mammal must be held for veterinary examination and testing if ordered by Tioga County Public Health.

   D. Assist in identifying possible exposures to rabies from exhibited mammals: 

1. The exhibitor must assist Tioga County Public Health in identifying all humans and mammals having contact with mammals found to have rabies.
2. Exhibitor records of human exposure must be available to Tioga County Public Health during and up to 6 months following the exhibit.

Such records of human exposure may be in written, digital, photo, and/or security video form.

IV. ENFORCEMENT

Pursuant to 12-b of the Public Health Law, a person who willfully violates or refuses or omits to comply with this Order of the Tioga County Board of Health, is guilty of a misdemeanor which may be punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, or both.