By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There is no cure for rabies in humans once symptoms have developed. The disease is almost always fatal once it reaches the central nervous system. That's why public health officials take the disease, which is usually transmitted to humans by the saliva of an infected animal through broken skin or mucous membranes, so seriously. Monday night, the city of Great Bend updates its rabies ordinance relating to rabies quarantine requirements. City Administrator Logan Burns said Great Bend's policy will now align with that of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Barton County.
"After discussion with local veterinarians, the city of Great Bend learned our ordinances were not consistent with modern veterinarian medical standards regarding rabies quarantine periods," he said. "Our current ordinance reflects a quarantine period of not less than 14 days, whereas KDHE standards reflect a 10-day quarantine period."
The city's ordinance will still require that any animal that has bitten a person be delivered to an animal control authority for licensed impounding and quarantine, and the animal shall be examined to determine if it is suffering from rabies. Barton County passed its resolution in 2018. Burns said certain dogs may be exempt.
"The other substantive change made to the ordinance is concerning police canines where any currently vaccinated canine belonging to the Great Bend Police Department, Barton County Sheriff's Office, or other police canine assisting from another law enforcement agency that bites any person while under proper law enforcement supervision, is exempt from requirements from subsection (b) of this proposed ordinance and may continue on active duty unless it is acting in a manner that would indicate symptoms of rabies."
Dr. William Niederee told the council that staff at the Golden Belt Humane Society used to make the determination if an animal had bitten someone was exhibiting rabies symptoms. In 2018, the policy was changed to require a licensed veterinarian to make that decision. If the animal that has bitten someone has current vaccinations, it would still be subject to a 10-day quarantine, though that may be at the owner's residence if adequate containment and other factors, including no history of aggressive behavior, are met.