Rabies Awareness Week

March 10-16, 2008

The Virginia Department of Health, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), has developed a rabies awareness educational packet entitled “Stay Away From Strays.”  The health department is making this information available, in the links to the right, including a lesson plan, presentation information, and brochures, to Virginia’s public elementary schools in anticipation of Rabies Awareness Week, March 10-16.

We realize that teachers are very busy preparing their students for the Standards of Learning examinations during this time of the year.  We hope this information will complement the material your fourth grade teachers are presenting about health education standards, specifically health standard 4.4 which aims to help students “demonstrate an understanding of health concepts and behaviors that prevent illness of self and others.”  While we would be delighted if fourth grade teachers chose to present this information during Rabies Awareness Week, they should feel free to use it at anytime up through the end of the school year.

Public health representatives are available to assist teachers in presenting this information to fourth grade students.  Contact the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology at 804-864-8141 and we will make every effort to arrange for a local health authority (e.g., health department representative, animal control officer, veterinarian) to assist.

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