OKLAHOMA
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        State Veterinarian


        BURKE HEALEY
        Ph: 405-521-3891 Fax: 405-522-4583
        Animal Industry Div.
        OK Dept. of Ag.
        2800 N. Lincoln Blvd.
        Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298


        Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 310:599-3-9
        Administration of rabies vaccine:

        (a) It is prohibited for anyone to administer rabies vaccine to any animal unless said vaccine is licensed for use in the particular animal species in question. Exceptions to this include:

          (1)  The vaccination of wolf-dog hybrids with a rabies vaccine approved for dogs; or
          (2)  Use at recognized nonprofit zoological parks, or research institutions; or
          (3)  Special approval by the Commissioner of Health permitting the vaccination in a particular species where the preponderance of scientific literature suggests vaccine efficacy, and vaccine usage is determined to protect public health and safety.


        (b) Animals vaccinated per these exceptions will still be considered as a wild animal species if involved in a bite to a person, and will be handled according to OAC 310:599-3-4.

        310:599-3-4 Management of other animals that bite a human
        (a) The final decision for animal destruction, quarantine, or other disposition of any animal other than a dog or cat that bites a person, or otherwise potentially exposes a person to rabies shall be determined through the Department. The decision will consider, but not be limited to:

          (1)  The epidemiology and risk of rabies in the species of animal in question;
          (2)  Possible prior exposure to a rabies vector;
          (3)  Behavior of the animal at the time of the bite;
          (4)  Prior rabies vaccinations; and
          (5)  Other circumstances that may exist.


        (b) In some situations, the Department will consider the initiative and willingness of the individual so exposed to submit to postexposure anti-rabies immunization after being adequately informed of all potential risks.

        (c) Any biting animal determined to be at significant risk for the transmission of rabies shall upon written order by the Commissioner of Health, or a specifically designated representative, be humanely killed and the brain tissue submitted to the State Department of Health Laboratory for rabies testing.

        (d) The Department has the authority to order the quarantine of an animal, determined to be a very low risk for the transmission of rabies, for a thirty (30) day observation period as an alternate method to euthanasia and testing.
         

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        These emergency rules changes (and a few others that had nothing to do with wds) were approved and signed by Governor Keating on July 18, 1997, making them immediately effective. They were adopted permanently in Jan or Feb of 1998. The exception allowing vaccs of wds was new and was a reversal of prior policy. By the management section it appears conceivable that they might consider a bite by a wd on an individual basis and not automatically euth it for testing. Don't know ifthat situation has come up yet, though.



         
         

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