Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Veterinary Public Health - Rabies Control Program
7601 E. Imperial Hwy.
Bldg. 700 Suite 94A
Downey, CA 90242
Tel: (562) 401-7088
Fax: (562) 401-7112 vet@ph.lacounty.gov
Featured Animal Case Report
A Case of Canine Nasal Mites in a Golden Retriever.
In June 2008, a 10 year old Golden Retriever was presented to Dr Eric Weigand of Claremont Veterinary Hospital for intermittent nose bleeds. The owner of the dog said it was unlikely anything had become caught up the nose, such as grass awns (a.k.a
foxtails). Click
here for the
full report. (Posted 10/1/08)
West Nile Virus in Local Birds
West Nile Virus (WNV) is being found
in dead birds in multiple parts of the county. A notable increase in WNV
in birds began in mid-to-late May, approximately two
months earlier than the season began in 2007.
Veterinary Public Health works with the California
Department of Public Health and local mosquito control
agencies in conducting West Nile Virus surveillance in
Los Angeles County. See
the most recent mapof locations where
WNV-positive dead birds were found
(Last updated 10/8/08).
To report dead birds or dead tree squirrels for WNV
testing, click
here.
Rabies in L.A. County
The first rabid animal diagnosed in Los Angeles County occurred in 1898 when an
Englishman told the Health Officer his dog, which was uncontrollable, might have
rabies. Confirmatory tests were run in Chicago. The following year, a man who was
bitten on his nose by his rabid cocker spaniel became the first known human rabies
death in the County.
In June of 1909, a police officer shot a collie dog with rabies. Within a month,
the police officer shot three more suspected rabid dogs found within five blocks of
the original dog. That year, another muzzling ordinance was passed the same month
by the board of health...more
Rabies-Positive Brain Sample
Rabies-positive brain sample. Photo is taken through a fluorescent microscope.
The brain sample from the rabid animal was prepared on glass slides, incubated with
fluorescent antibodies that attach to the virus, and then viewed through the
microscope. The rabies virus is seen as small fluorescent clusters throughout the
sample. Photo Courtesy Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory, 2007.
