1. A. When bitten by a rabid animal, unvaccinated dogs, cats, or ferrets shall be destroyed immediately unless the owner is unwilling to have this done, in which case, the unvaccinated animal shall be confined (as described in §111) for four months for dogs and cats and six months for ferrets being released. A rabies vaccine shall be administered at the time of entry into quarantine (confinement) to bring the animal up to current rabies vaccination status. Administration of the vaccine shall be done as soon as possible. It is recommended that the period from exposure to vaccination not exceed 96 hours. If vaccination is delayed the official state public health veterinarian may consider increasing the quarantine period for dogs and cats from four to six months. Dogs, cats, or ferrets that are currently vaccinated shall be re-vaccinated immediately and confined (as described in §111) for 45 days.

   1. 1. Overdue dogs and cats. Dogs and cats that are overdue for a booster vaccination and that have appropriate documentation of having received a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine at least once previously shall immediately receive a booster vaccination and shall be kept under the owner’s control and observed for 45 days. Dogs and cats that are overdue for a booster and without appropriate documentation of having received a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine at least once previously shall be:

      1. a. treated as unvaccinated, immediately given a booster vaccination and placed in strict quarantine; or
      2. b. the official state public health veterinarian may consider use of prospective serological monitoring (PSM) of the animal to document prior vaccination by providing evidence of an anamnestic response to booster vaccination. If the official state public health veterinarian authorizes PSM, the animal shall be strictly quarantined while PSM is performed. If the official state public health veterinarian confirms that PSM provides evidence of an anamnestic response, the period of strict quarantine may be ended, and the animal may be kept under the owner’s control and observed for 45 days. If there is inadequate evidence of an anamnestic response, the animal is considered to have never been vaccinated and shall be placed in strict quarantine for 4 to 6 months.
   2. 2. Overdue ferrets. Ferrets that are overdue for a booster shall be considered unvaccinated and shall be immediately vaccinated for rabies and strictly quarantined for 6 months.
2. B. All species of livestock exposed to a rabid animal and currently vaccinated with a vaccine approved for that species by the United States Department of Agriculture should be
   re-vaccinated immediately and observed for 45 days. Unvaccinated livestock should be slaughtered immediately.
3. C. Other mammals, including wild animals, exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately.
4. D. Animals maintained in a United States Department of Agriculture licensed research facility or accredited zoological parks will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the official state public health veterinarian.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(2)(a), and R.S. 40:1269.3.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1223 (June 2002), amended LR 33:651 (April 2007), amended by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR:45:671 (May 2019).