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Prophylactic Animal Rabies Vaccination Requirements in Ohio and Involvement of Local Health Departments in Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics

O'Quin, Jeanette M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322617160

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Public Health, Ohio State University, Public Health.
In order to protect public health, the majority of states have laws mandating the prophylactic vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies. Of the 21 states that have endemic raccoon rabies variant, Ohio was the only one that did not have a statewide requirement for vaccination of dogs, and was one of only two that did not require vaccination of cats. This study had three major objectives; the first was to determine the post-epizootic incidence of rabies in US dogs, cats, and ferrets and identify trends by comparing states with and without raccoon rabies variant activity. Analyzing surveillance data from 2000 to 2010 found that the proportion of total dog cases diagnosed in endemic states has been increasing over the last several years. Cats remained the most common rabid domestic animal in the US, and the vast majority (79%) of cases occurred in states endemic for raccoon rabies. In Ohio, local governments have been granted the authority to regulate rabies vaccination of animals. The second objective of this study focused on identifying the presence, distribution, and determinants of local animal rabies vaccination requirements. To accomplish this Environmental Health Directors in Ohio’s 128 local health jurisdictions were surveyed about their vaccination regulations, and responses to these questions were validated. Additional survey data were collected from local health jurisdictions for the third objective of this study: to identify the presence of at least one low cost rabies vaccination clinic per year and assess the level of public health involvement in rabies clinics. This study found that the majority of the state did not have compulsory rabies vaccination requirements. Mapping them across all 88 counties revealed that for dogs 57 (65%), for cats 65 (74%) and for ferrets 73 (83%) had no requirements in all or part of the county. Logistic regression determined that health jurisdictions in close proximity to raccoon rabies activity were not more likely to have vaccination requirements, but they were more likely to report the presence of rabies clinics as well as public health involvement in rabies clinics. Raccoon rabies activity in a county was associated with cat and ferret vaccination requirements; but not with dog vaccination requirements, the presence of rabies clinics, or public health involvement in rabies clinics. Increasing population size was a positive predictor for the presence and public health involvement in rabies clinics. Health jurisdictions with more residents were also more likely to have dog, cat, and ferret vaccination requirements compared to those that were less densely populated. Given that rabies in animals is more common in rural compared to urban communities and in regions near raccoon rabies activity compared to those that are farther removed; this study concluded that the regions of Ohio at greatest risk for this fatal disease were least likely to require rabies vaccination of companion animals. This study contributes new information that can be utilized by legislators and health officials to make informed decisions and guide public health policy for rabies prevention and control.
Armando Hoet, PhD (Advisor)
Linda Lord, PhD (Committee Member)
Michael Bisesi, PhD (Committee Member)
133 p.
Animals; Environmental Health; Public Health; Public Policy
rabies; rabies vaccination; companion animal; low cost rabies vaccination clinic; rabies in Ohio

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • O'Quin, J. M. (2011). Prophylactic Animal Rabies Vaccination Requirements in Ohio and Involvement of Local Health Departments in Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322617160

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • O'Quin, Jeanette. Prophylactic Animal Rabies Vaccination Requirements in Ohio and Involvement of Local Health Departments in Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322617160.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • O'Quin, Jeanette. "Prophylactic Animal Rabies Vaccination Requirements in Ohio and Involvement of Local Health Departments in Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322617160

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1322617160
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.