City Working with the State Department of Health (OSDH) Following Postivie Rabies Case in Area Dog

(TULSA, Okla.) Tulsa Animal Services is working with OSDH following confirmation of a positive rabies case near E. Admiral Pl. and N. Harvard Ave. 

The confirmation follows a report of a dog bite by a concerned neighbor who indicated they were bitten on February 14. During the investigation, Tulsa Animal Services located the dog's owner, who disclosed the same dog also bit them four to six weeks ago, when the animal was not yet infectious with rabies. 

The owner disclosed that immediately following the bite to the neighbor, the dog was put down and buried. Tulsa Animal Services investigators subsequently requested that the owner bring the deceased animal to the shelter for mandatory rabies testing as stipulated by City ordinance. 

Samples taken from the animal were sent to the Oklahoma Animal Diagnostics and Disease Laboratory (OADDL) in Stillwater, OK, for thorough testing. Upon receiving the positive results, contact tracing and notification occurred on the same day of the result. The owner, neighbor, and veterinary team treating the dog were alerted to the result and to the potential for human exposure. 

While the incident is presumed to be isolated, several Tulsa area animal service providers have been alerted, some of which have also been asked for help standing up localized rabies vaccination clinics near the site. 

The City will provide more details on vaccine clinics as they come available. You can also follow Tulsa Animal Services on Facebook, @TulsaAnimalWelfare, to stay up to date. 

Bite Reporting 

Tulsa Animal Services wants to remind residents to never wait to report an animal bite. Bite reports can be made by calling (918) 596-8001.