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County environmental health reports rise in rabies cases; department requests overtime funds to keep up
Summary
Environmental Health staff told the health committee they have administered 112 rabies vaccines so far this year — 33 more than last year — and said the increase has driven overtime costs; committee recorded the fund transfer as an FYI to be signed in audit.
Putnam County Environmental Health staff told the Health Committee on Nov. 21 that the department has seen a notable increase in rabies‑related activity this year, and that increased after‑hours call volume and vaccine/treatment work have raised overtime expenditures.
According to the meeting record, environmental health staff said they have administered 112 vaccines so far this year — "33 more than '23" in the presenter’s wording — and that treatment costs in the relevant line approached roughly $11,000 for the period discussed. The department requested a fund transfer to cover overtime through year‑end and explained that staff rotate emergency on‑call phone duties; the uptick in rabies calls has increased overtime payouts because more employees took overtime rather than comp time.
Committee members asked about capture and response capabilities when residents report potentially exposed animals; staff said outreach and capture efforts are ongoing and that the program aims to reduce household exposures by responding to reported incidents. The transfer was recorded as an FYI that will be signed at audit.
