Rabies is a near 100% fatal disease when contracted by humans. All residents of Miami County have the potential to be exposed to rabies. People can contract rabies when bitten by an animal that has rabies. Rabies in humans can be prevented in large part, but not completely, through the immunization of cats and dogs and with anti-rabies prophylaxis drugs in humans.

To protect the public from the spread of rabies and to promote awareness of the dangers of rabies, MCPH perfoms Monitoring of a nationwide immunization program, quarantine isolation and observation during bite case (both human and animal), and suspect case animal head submission to the Ohio Department of Health for clinical testing.