Animal Bites
Health care providers, hospitals,
and veterinarians are required to notify local health
jurisdictions of animal bites to humans. The purpose of
reporting is to assure appropriate rabies prevention
measures are initiated after a bite, including observation
of healthy dogs, cats, and ferrets; laboratory testing of
wild animals; wound care and appropriate
rabies
post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Local Health jurisdictions are not
required to report animal bites to DOH Communicable Disease
Epidemiology (CDE) Section, however CDE staff are available
for consultation on management of animal bites, animal
rabies testing, and rabies as needed.
Reporting Requirements
- Health care providers: notifiable
to Local Health Jurisdiction immediately
- Hospitals: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
immediately
- Laboratories: no requirements for reporting
- Local health jurisdictions: not notifiable to DOH
Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section
Last update
June 2008
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