Mosquitoes, Rabies and Pests
Mosquitoes and Ticks
For information about mosquitoes, click on the links below:
Rabies Control
When animal bites occur, the Environmental Health staff is responsible for ensuring the delivery of specimens to the State Public Health Laboratory in Jefferson City for examination to determine if the rabies virus is present. When pet owners choose not to euthanize, the offending animal must be confined and observed.
A healthy domestic dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days. Those that remain alive and healthy 10 days after a bite would not have been shedding rabies virus in their saliva and would not have been infectious at the time of the bite. All domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets kept as pets must be vaccinated against rabies. Even if they are not, such animals might still be confined and observed for 10 days after a bite to reliably determine the risk for rabies exposure for the person who was bitten. Any illness in the animal during the confinement period before release should be evaluated by a veterinarian and reported immediately to the local public health department. If signs suggestive of rabies develop, post-exposure prophylaxis of the bite victim should be initiated. The animal should be euthanized and a specimen should be shipped, under refrigeration, for examination by the laboratory.
The Animal Control Unit of the Platte County Sheriff's Office is responsible for all canine complaints in unincorporated areas of Platte County.
For more information rabies, click on the links below:
Other Pests
For more information about bed bugs, rats, and other pests, click on the links below: