- Codes, Regulations
- Disaster, Emergencies
- Disposal - Sewage
- Disposal - Waste, Pollution
- Emergency Planning
- Food Protection
- Children with Special Needs
- Lead Hazards
- Healthy Neighborhood Program
- Nursing Division
- Public Water Supply
- Rabies, Pest Control
- Animal Bites
- Rabies Prevention
- Bats
- Bed Bugs - Residences, Temp and Other
- The Community LOOW Project
- Tattoo/Body Piercing/Permanent Make-up
- Tobacco Prevention
Rabies Prevention
What You Can Do to Prevent the Spread of Rabies?
Niagara County Rabies Clinic Schedule
Be a responsible pet owner:
- Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
- Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
- Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
- Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:
- Enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
- When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries.
Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America where dogs are the major reservoir of rabies. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries. Before traveling abroad, consult with a health care provider, travel clinic, or your health department about the risk of exposure to rabies, preexposure prophylaxis, and how you should handle an exposure, should it arise.
Rabies ORV Program
Each year the Niagara County Department of Health Environmental division in cooperation with Cornell University Diagnostic Laboratory and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources conducts a baiting program using the Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV). These sachets are distributed by plane over much of the county and by hand in the more densely populated areas of the county.
Environmental Rabies Vaccine
Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) bait distribution is projected to start in Plattsburgh on Aug. 21st. where Clinton, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis counties (as well as Maine, VT, NH) will be baited. Immediately following these operations (around Aug. 26th-27th, depending on the weather), fixed wing baiting will shift to Batavia where Erie and Niagara Counties will be baited. This baiting is projected to take only one day using three planes. Immediately following, the city of Buffalo will be hand baited. Then beginning Aug. 30th the urbanized areas of Erie and Niagara Counties will be baited by helicopter. It is anticipated that all baiting will wrap up in NY by Sept. 3rd, - weather permitting.
Additional information regarding ORV:
The Rabies Management Challenge 
Oral Rabies Vaccination Program in the East
Questions and Answers: Rabies and Oral Rabies Vaccination
