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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11161999 - D.4 L DA THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 16, 1999 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Gioia, Uilkema, DeSaulnier, and Canciamilla NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Gerber ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Rabies incident in Animal Services Department On this date, the Board of Supervisors heard a report from Michael G. Ross, Animal Services Director regarding a rabies exposure incident in the Animal Services Department. There were no requests to speak on this item. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the report from the Animal Services Department is ACCEPTED. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By Deputy attachment: report CC: CAO County Counsel Animal Services 3 ` Animal S drvices Department Michael G.Ross Cn ra Animal Services Director 4849 Imhoff Place Costa Martinez California 94553-4393 (925)646-2995 County 651 Pinole Shores Drive ,�.�-�=- Pinole,California 94564-2632 (510)374-3966 _ I. o. _- aa�1111�.111j ♦ C'ps�y -_ •'G coU1`t" Date: November 9, 1999 To: Board of Supervisors /-/i111 wool_ From.: Michael G.Ross,Animal Services rector � RE: Rabies Incident BACKGROUND: On September 20, 1999, a citizen called the Animal Services Department to request that eight (8)puppies and their mother be picked up because of possible exposure to a skunk. The Animal Services Officer who responded to this call picked up the dogs and the remains of the skunk and transported them to the Martinez animal shelter. She completed appropriate computer entries, prepared the skunks body for transport to the County Health Services Department laboratory for testing,and placed the dogs in a cage in the euthanasia room.. All of the above actions were in accordance with.Department policy. On the morning of September 21, 1939, the skunk was transported to the Health Services Department laboratory for testing. On that sante morning, the Senior Animal Services Technician for the Martinez shelter instructed a subordinate to move the dogs out of the euthanasia room. On September 22, 1999, the six(6)puppies were reclassified to "available." They were then vaccinated and placed in another section of the building for possible adoption. Two of the puppies adopted. One was adopted on September 22"d,the other on September 24th. u pp were p p p RABIES TESTING AND PUBLIC NOTMCATION On September 21, 1999,the skunk was sent to the Health Services Department laboratory. We were informed on September 24, 1999, that the specimen was "unsatisfactory" because the brain tissue had deteriorated to a point where the test was unreliable. At this point,we needed to recover the two puppies that had been adopted. The first puppy was recovered on September 24, 1999. We contacted the Public Health Nurse(PHN)we normally deal with on rabies control issues. She advised staff that if there were no bites or scratches inflicted on the 11/09/99 persons who handled the puppies, to euthanize the two puppies as well as the mother and remaining puppies and dispose of them. This is what happened to one of the adopted puppies, the mother, and the remaining puppies on September 25, 1999. On September 28, 1999, the Deputy Director of the Animal Services Department was made aware of the instruction from the PHN. After consultation with Health Services Department staff on September 29, 1999, it was decided that the remaining puppy should be euthanized and tested for rabies. The puppy was sent to the County laboratory on September 30, 1999. The results from this test were inconclusive so the brain tissue was sent to the State of California laboratory in Berkeley on October 1,, 1999. The County Health Services Department on October 5, 1999 notified us that the animal was not infected with rabies. The Deputy Animal Services Director notified the persons adopting the animals of the negative results on October 5, 1999. On Saturday, October 9,, 199%the County Health Services Department notified us that the State Department of Health laboratory had run an "amplified"test and they were now advising that the results of that test were positive. The original dog owner and the adoption parties were notified on Monday, October 11, 1999, that the animal was rabid and that they would need to undergo treatment for rabies. The State was closed for business on Monday so our Health Services Department could not confer with the Communicable Disease Consultant until Tuesday October IZ, 1999, relative to the advisability of issuing a public notice regarding possible exposure. While the risks of infection were deemed to be very small Dr. Walker decided,and I concurred that, we would put out a press release. The press release was drafted by the Health Services Department after consultation with the State Department of Health,was reviewed by me and was issued at approximately 5:00 p.m. October 1'2, 1999. r PuBLic No rioncATioN A"R"ws TREATMENT We were unsure if the press release and subsequent media notification would reach all persons whom might have had contact with these animals at the shelter. Therefore, I directed staff to pull the names of all known visitors to the shelter from our computer records. A notice was drafted in consultation with the Communicable Disease Division of the Health Services Department and mailed via certified mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail to the approximately 460 persons we could identify as being at the Martinez shelter between September 21't and September 25th As soon as I became aware that we had a potential problem and were sending one of the puppies to our Health Services laboratory for testing I instructed the Deputy Director to contact Risk Management. Since October 13, 1999,Risk Management has sent out 73 letters authorizing direct medical billings for 11 o individuals. This was done after the Communicable Disease Division screened approximately 500 calls. The letters were sent out by priority mail, fax or hand delivered by Risk Management staff. Risk Management has advised individuals taking rabies treatment that any use of sick leave used in conjunction with treatment would be reimbursed. Mr. Ron Harvey of Risk Management has spoken personally to each one of the individuals referred by the Communicable Disease Division. Risk Management is currently receiving and processing medical bills associated with rabies treatment. -9f 11/09/99 POLICY AND PROCEDURE REVIEW The policies and procedures of the Animal Services Department and the Health Services Department relative to rabies control have been effective for many years. However, this incident proves that any system is subject to error and can benefit from review. Therefore, we met with the Director of the Communicable Disease Division of the Health Services Department and thoroughly reviewed both Departments policy and procedures. This review %.W 61 resulted in the following changes and/or increased emphasis relative to rabies control. All unsatisfactory or inconclusive results will be faxed to Animal Services and the Communicable Disease Division the same day as results are available from the lab as is currently done with positive results. )0, The Communicable Disease Division will treat all unsatisfactory or inconclusive results in the same manner as positive results with the exception of low/no risk animals. iAOT M )0- All. laboratory slips with inconclusive or unsatisfactory results will read "This s A jL a negative report. Contact the Communicable Disease DIVIsion for evaluation of need for treatment and follow-up." ➢ The Public Health laboratory has created a new rabies testing form. It will more closely record the condition of the material tested. It will completely record the results of all specimens/slides tested. )0- As with all positive results, the Communicable Disease Division will contact Animal Services by phone when results of unsatisfactory or inconclusive tests are received. ➢ If there are preliminary results they will either not be reported out or they will be reported with a note that states "preliminary results,further tests pending.ff The State laboratory has agreed to not report out any preliminary results. );io- When the Communicable Disease Division receives a report from Animal Services regarding a domestic animal in contact with a potentially rabid wild animal, the condition of the wild animal and approximately how long the animal has been dead and when the reported contact may have occurred will be included. )0,- The Animal Services Department's computer system will be modified to produce a more graphic notice relative to "Possible rabies suspect" status on animal inventory control cards. );o The policy that the adoption potential of animals is secondary to issues relative to rabies control will be reemphasized All Animal Services Department staff will receive additional training relative to rabies control issues.