ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

Animal-Carried Diseases

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Preventing the spread of disease from animals to humans is a public health responsibility.

Environmental public health specialists:

• Investigate reports of animal bites by dogs, cats, bats, ferrets and wild animals for the risk of rabies.
• Work closely with animal control agencies regarding animal bites to local residents.
• Monitor ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects and animals known to cause illness in people.
• Educate about the risks of animal-carried disease and methods to reduce the risk through habitat control.
• Conduct surveillance for emerging animal and insect-carried disease including West Nile virus.

Contact us by calling: 324-1560 ext. 7

Epidemiology staff respond to reported cases of human illness and exposure to illness caused by animals and insects. Epidemiologists educate and work closely with health care providers and the Washington State Department of Health to respond to cases of animal-carried disease in the community.

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