rabies vaccination clinic

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are warning residents to stay away from wildlife and stray animals.

“Due to the mild winter and warmer temperatures, there has been a rise in the instances of people encountering wild animals and strays throughout Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “In the past month, several residents have required rabies treatment following an animal encounter.”

Rabies is most often found in wildlife such as raccoons, bats, and skunks, but pets can be at risk of the virus too. “If you see an animal in need, even if it is a baby animal, avoid touching it and contact animal control, stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “It is also important to keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination.”

Rabies can be fatal if left untreated. It can be transmitted through direct contact with saliva through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. 

If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention. All bites should be reported to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. 

To prevent the spread of rabies, the health department reminds residents to take the following precautions:

• Keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations
• Obey leash laws. Keep your pets under direct supervision and on a leash so they do not come in contact with wild or stray animals. If an animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the health department.
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, touch, or attract wildlife (raccoons, skunks, bats, bunnies, rabbits, and foxes) or stray dogs and cats.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. 
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters. If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and call the health department. DO NOT release it! For a video on how to safety capture a bat, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puP8qbATPKg
• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood or if you see an animal showing signs of rabies. Signs of rabies in animals may include aggression, excessive drool or saliva, confusion, hair loss, and loss of movement or function.

Residents are encouraged to take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties which are offered at no charge. 

Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)

• Thursday, May 16, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, August 8, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 10, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion)

• Saturday, April 13, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 5, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 10, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, October 19, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department: 

• Genesee County- 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us 
• Orleans County- 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov 

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are offering their final 2023 free drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics in October. Funding for the rabies clinics are provided by the New York State Department of Health.

• The Genesee County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on Thursday, Oct. 12 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).
• The Orleans County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion)

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

“We encourage all Genesee and Orleans County residents to take advantage of our last rabies immunization clinics of 2023 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. 

“Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in both Genesee and Orleans Counties and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. 

Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs, or cats.” For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department:

• Genesee County- 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us 
• Orleans County- 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov

Press Release:

It is early August and the height of summer, which often means the peak of “bat season” for local health departments and when people more commonly have encounters with bats.

Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed. This most often occurs during the summer nights. When you find a bat in your home, it is extremely important to safely capture the animal if it is suspected to have been in contact with people, pets, or livestock so that it can be tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be captured, you should call the health department for advice and next steps.

In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your room, if you see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or if you see a bat near someone who is unable to speak or is under the influence of drugs/alcohol, it is important to seek medical advice and have the bat tested.

To safely capture a bat:

1. Turn on room lights and close all the windows.
2. Close the room and closet doors.
3. Wait for the bat to land.
4. While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail, or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
5. Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
6. Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.
7. If you do not feel comfortable capturing the bat or cannot do it safely, contact the Genesee County health department during regular business hours. If it is after regular business hours, contact Genesee County dispatch at (585) 343-5000. 

“Love your own, leave the rest alone”, stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “It is important that residents DO NOT pick up, touch, or feed wildlife (raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, etc.). This is also true for stray cats and dogs. Wild or feral animals, including their babies, can be rabid.”

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, or by safely capturing the bat or other animal that may have had contact with us or our pets, and reporting the incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000.00 per person.

Keep rabies vaccinations current for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. This is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies but also to provide a barrier of protection for you and your family if your pet is bitten by a rabid animal.

Please take note of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee County offered at no charge.

Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 E. Main St., Batavia):

• August 10 from 4 - 6:30 p.m.
• October 12 from 4 - 6 p.m.

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact Genesee County health department at 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us

Press Release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are offering free drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic in August.

The Genesee County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on August 10 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee and Orleans Counties,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact the Genesee County health department at 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health@co.genesee.ny.us.