Post exposure prophylaxis effectively prevents the development of rabies after the contact with saliva of infected animals, through bites, scratches, licks on broken skin or mucous membranes.
For further details refer to Rabies Post-Exposure Treatment Guidelines, Veterinary Public Health Unit, Community Health Dept, Ministry of Health, September 2001.
General Management
Dealing with the animal:
Treatment | LOC |
If the animal can be identified and caught:
|
HC2 |
If animal cannot be identified
|
HC2 |
Notes:
- Consumption of properly cooked rabid meat is not harmful
- Animals at risk: dogs, cats, bats, other wild carnivores
- Non-mammals cannot harbour rabies
Dealing with the patient:
- The combination of local wound treatment plus passive immunisation with rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) plus vaccination with rabies vaccine (RV) is recommended for all suspected exposures to rabies
- Since prolonged rabies incubation periods are possible, persons who present for evaluation and treatment even months after having been bitten should be treated in the same way as if the contact occurred recently
- Administration of Rabies IG and vaccine depends on the type of exposure and the animal’s condition
Treatment
Treatment | LOC |
|
HC2 |
If Veterinary Department confirms rabies infection or if animal cannot be identified/tested:
|
H |
Recommendations for Rabies Vaccination/Serum
NATURE OF EXPOSURE |
CONDITION OF ANIMAL |
RECOMMENDED ACTION |
|
AT TIME OF EXPOSURE |
10 DAYS LATER |
||
Saliva in contact with skin but no skin lesion |
Healthy |
Healthy |
Do not vaccinate |
Rabid |
Vaccinate |
||
Suspect/ Unknown |
Healthy |
Do not vaccinate |
|
Rabid |
Vaccinate |
||
Unknown |
Vaccinate |
||
Saliva in contact with skin that has lesions, minor bites on trunk or proximal limbs |
Healthy |
Healthy |
Do not vaccinate |
Rabid |
Vaccinate |
||
Suspect/ unknown |
Healthy |
Vaccinate; but stop course if animal healthy after 10 days |
|
Rabid |
Vaccinate |
||
Unknown |
Vaccinate |
||
Saliva in contact with mucosae, serious bites (face, head, fingers or multiple bites)
|
Domestic or wild rabid animal or suspect |
Vaccinate and give antirabies immunoglobulin |
|
Healthy domestic animal |
Vaccinate but stop course if animal healthy after 10 days |
Prevention
Vaccinate all domestic animals against rabies e.g. dogs, cats and others