Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102107

Jamie L. Snow, DVM, MPH, Wyoming Department of Health, CSTE Fellow, 2300 Capital Avenue, 4th Floor Hathaway, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 303-777-5825, jsnow@state.wy.us and Monica Olkowski, MS, Bioterrorism, Wyoming Department of Health, 6101 Yellowstone Rd., Suite 510, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

Rabies is a viral zoonoses that is generally fatal to both people and animals. Human exposures are generally the result of contact with animals. Therefore, knowledge about human health and animal health is needed to effectively deal with rabies exposures. Health care providers may not know how to effectively address the animal aspects of the disease. Conversely, veterinarians may not always have accurate human health knowledge or they may not give appropriate human health recommendations. Wyoming will use a one medicine approach to educate heath care providers and veterinarians throughout the state. Through the use of a pre-questionnaire, basic knowledge about rabies, post- exposure prophylaxis and animal bites will be ascertained from health care providers and veterinarians. An aggressive educational campaign will follow, which will consist of several educational mailings including a brochure for each specific group, a presentation to be delivered to both groups through out the state and town meetings to be held in various regions of Wyoming. The town meetings will provide an opportunity for both parties to meet and discuss their opinions about rabies, learn from each other and make important connections. This information could be utilized for future rabies incidences. Following the educational campaign, a subsequent questionnaire will be given to the two groups to determine the effectiveness of the educational campaign.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the three goals of the one medicine approach to rabies education in Wyoming.
• Identify areas where health care providers and veterinarians lack specific knowledge about rabies.
• Evaluate the educational outcomes of the one medicine approach to rabies education in Wyoming.

Keywords: Education, Rabies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.