Rabies Guide for Health Providers
All clinicians should report to Animal Services all instances in which any mammal has bitten a human even if the risk of rabies is low (e.g. bite from a domestic dog). Call Animal Services at 925-646-2441 to report a biting animal, alternatively you may complete and fax a Bite Report to 925-335-8301.
Every veterinarian practicing in Contra Costa County and every person providing professional medical treatment for animal bite by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall immediately notify Contra Costa Health Services whenever rabies is suspected. Veterinarians are required to report six animal diseases: anthrax, brucellosis (except Brucella canis), plague, rabies, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Vets may submit a Confidential Morbidity Report for Animal Patients by fax to 925-313-6465. For questions regarding this reporting requirement, call 925-313-6740
Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
ACIP guidelines for a bite that is considered high risk for rabies transmission includes a regimen of one dose of human rabies immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine (except in immunosuppressed persons who should receive five doses of rabies vaccine). HRIG and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given as soon as possible after an exposure. Additional doses of rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7 and 14 after the first vaccination (immunosuppressed persons should receive a fifth dose on day 28 after the first vaccination).
This Rabies PEP poster provides a quick visual reference for when and how to administer rabies prophylaxis.
See more information designed specifically for health care providers.
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
Windows Media Player
Word Viewer
Excel Viewer
PowerPoint Viewer
