Rabies:

Rabies is a potentially fatal disease that now exisits among wildlife in Connecticut. Persons who are bitten by an unknown or wild animal or have a non-bite exposure (contamination of a scratch, abrasion, mucous membrane or open wound with saliva or central nervous system tissue) should contact their physician. The presence of bats in a home can constitute an exposure.  Questions concerning exposures may be directed to (203) 977-4378.

If a wild animal is seen behaving in an erratic manner, Keep away from them and call Animal Control at (203) 977-4437 or 911.

Animals causing an exposure can be sent to the State of Connecticut Health Department Laboratory. If the animal causing the exposure is a domestic animal, a determination of its vaccination status will need to be determined. If the animal is wild, it will be euthanized and sent to the State Laboratory. Large animals must be beheaded by a licensed Veterinarian, small animals will be sent up whole. NO LIVE ANIMALS ARE ACCEPTED. Animals should be brought in immediately or kept refrigerated for up to two (2) days. Results are available the following business day. There is no charge for this service.

Insect Identification:

Strange insects in your pantry?

Termites in your deck?

Things that drive you buggy?

Stamford residents can bring these down for identification to the laboratory. If we don’t know what it is, we will send it along to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station for identification and solutions on how to control a pest. 

Information:

The Laboratory maintains the Information Hotline for the Health Department, (203) 977-5889, which includes the following information:

• Current public beach status - whether its ok to go swimming or not, updated weekly or more during bathing season.
• Current status of the recreational and conditionally approved areas for shellfish (clams and oysters).
• Current tick activity and what to do if you have bitten by a tick.
• Mosquito and West Nile Virus activity
• Time and locations of the Flu shot clinics