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Rabies

Info for Healthcare Providers

The following resources provide information to assist in medical assessment for human rabies postexposure prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention:

• Disease Manuals & Guides
• Support Services
• Forms
• Tools & Websites

Disease Manuals & Guides

Clinical:

• DHHS: N.C. Rabies Control Manual - North Carolina-specific guidance and information for local health departments, healthcare providers, veterinarians, certified rabies vaccinators, animal control and other professionals involved in rabies control and prevention. Includes N.C. laws and rules, risk assessment algorithms, human PEP recommendations and standing order templates, animal vaccination requirements, and animal management protocols.
• DHHS: N.C. Communicable Disease Manual for Local Health Departments - Case definition, investigation steps, and reporting information for rabies cases in humans.
• DHHS: Evaluation of Animal Bites to Humans for Rabies Risk (PDF, 58KB)

Legal Guidance:

• N.C. Rabies Laws: GS § 130A-184 through 201
• N.C. Rabies Rules: 10A NCAC 41 Subchapter G, Sections .0101-.0103

Prevention of Human Rabies:

• CDC 03/19/2010 MMWR: New Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - Use of a Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Human Rabies:
  • ACIP Recommendations
  • Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• CDC: Human Rabies Prevention 2008, Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

Prevention and Control of Animal Rabies:

• Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians

Rabies Webinars (CME)

• VPH Bulletin Board

Support Services

• Find Your Local Health Department - First line of contact for communicable disease control, surveillance and response in our communities.
• Find local animal control - North Carolina Association of Rabies Control Agencies (NCARCA)
• State Laboratory of Public Health - Virology and serology services for rabies.
• Rabies risk assessments - Human health care providers, veterinarians and CD nurses caring for patients with potential rabies exposures may contact N.C. DHHS Public Health Veterinarians (919-733-3419; 24/7) for evaluation of exposure circumstances and advisement on whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is appropriate. In the case of animals, the determination of whether or not control measures should be applied is made under NC GS § 130A-197 .

Forms

• DHHS: Form 2124 (PDF) - Physicians and healthcare providers may use this form to notify the local health department of reportable communicable disease cases. Learn more about disease surveillance and reporting.
• DHHS: Request for Free State Supplied Rabies Vaccine (PDF, 85KB)

Tools & Websites

• CDC: Rabies
• CDC: World Rabies Day - A global health observance to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts. Co-sponsored by CDC and the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC).
• USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Federal agency responsible for rabies management and other veterinary public health issues.