Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session
Rabies Epidemiology In Colorado: Working With Your Health Department To Prevent And Control Rabies
10:45-noon • Aug. 21, 2025
Lakewood Ballroom
Field Services
This session will describe rabies epidemiology in Colorado and discuss the shared responsibility of rabies prevention and control between Adams County Health Department and their local animal management agencies. Participants will learn how to evaluate potential rabies exposures in pets and people, understand pet quarantine and enforcement, learn safe infection control practices for preparing animals for rabies testing, and determine how to protect themselves with rabies vaccination.
Dr. Bernadette Albanese
Dr. Bernadette Albanese, MD, MPH serves as Adams County Health Department’s Medical Officer and Co-Medical Director at El Paso County Public Health. As a public health physician, Dr. Albanese has wide-ranging experience in infectious diseases, immunizations, assessing health issues in populations, and contributing to applied public health research. She uses epidemiologic data to improve the health of Adams County communities, identify health disparities, educate the public about disease risks, and inform public health policy.
Jennifer Chase
Jennifer Chase, MS is the Communicable Disease Epidemiology Manager for Adams County Health Department. She has a master’s degree in environmental health, epidemiology, and been working as a public health epidemiologist for over 20 years in Colorado and Wyoming. Her interests include infectious disease, working with community, and working equitably to make Adams County and Colorado a safe and healthy place to live, work, and play.