This is the DHEC Guide for Rabies Risk Assessment and Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Contents

1. Rabies Overview
2. Reporting Animal Exposures
3. DHEC Medical Consultants Assist with Rabies Risk Assessments
4. Evaluating Animal Exposures to Guide Postexposure Prophylaxis Decisions
5. Non-Bite Exposures
6. Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Schedule and Administration Guidance
7. DHEC Contacts for Reporting Animal Incidents or Medical Consultation
8. Serologic Testing by Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT)
9. Manufacturers and Distributors of Rabies Biologics
10. Programs for Uninsured and Underinsured Patients
11. Rabies Vaccine Information Sheet for Patients
12. Print this page

Rabies Overview

Rabies is an acute viral infection resulting in encephalomyelitis that is nearly always fatal. The rabies virus proliferates in neural tissue and is found in high concentration in saliva following replication in the salivary glands.

The rabies virus may be transmitted when saliva or neural tissue of an infected animal is introduced into the body, usually through a bite or scratch. Fresh saliva and neural tissue can also be infectious if introduced onto a mucous membrane or a fresh break in the skin. Exposure to blood, urine or other bodily fluids from a known or suspected rabid animal are not considered exposures.

Rabies virus is inactivated by desiccation, ultraviolet irradiation, and other factors like heat and sunlight, and does not persist in the environment. In general, if the suspect material is dry, the virus can be considered noninfectious.

Post-exposure prophylaxis combines wound treatment, local infiltration of rabies immune globulin (RIG), and vaccination, which has been shown to be uniformly effective when appropriately administered.

Reporting Animal Exposures

South Carolina State Law Mandates Reporting of Animal Bites
Animal (mammal) bites are a reportable condition in South Carolina. As mandated by State Code of Laws Section 47-5-90.

Animal (mammal) exposures are an urgently reportable condition under the SC List of Reportable Conditions. Reports are to be made by phone within 24 hours of a provider's attendance on the patient, or of the provider receiving a report of a bite from a patient. See DHEC Contacts for Reporting or Medical Consultation. Reports of animal incidents may also be faxed to DHEC using the DHEC Form 1799 'Animal Incident Report'.

Providers are required to report animal exposures to DHEC so that animal investigations can be promptly initiated. Most animal exposures do not require post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP); locating the animal for quarantine or testing may prevent unnecessary PEP.

DHEC Medical Consultants Assist with Rabies Risk Assessments

Administration of rabies PEP is a medical urgency, not a medical emergency. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises that clinicians seek assistance from public health officials when needed, in order to evaluate the risk of rabies and determine if PEP is recommended given the circumstances of the exposure. A consultation with public health officials is known to reduce unnecessary rabies PEP, since they have expertise in the epidemiology of animal rabies and the indications for post-exposure treatment. DHEC physicians are available for medical consultations. Refer to the DHEC Contacts for Reporting or Medical Consultation if you need assistance.

Evaluating Animal Exposures to Guide Postexposure Prophylaxis Decisions

Determining if PEP is indicated is based on a number of variables. The following criteria should be taken under consideration:

• Is the animal available for quarantine/observation or rabies testing?
• Did the exposure result in an observed wound like a bite or scratch?
• Was there mucous membrane exposure?
• Could there potentially be an unrecognized wound from a bat?
• The severity and location of the wound do not alone determine if PEP is indicated, but may dictate the urgency of treatment if needed.
  • For example, head and neck exposures require more urgent risk assessment.
• The epidemiology of animal rabies - including where the exposure occurred and the animal species involved.
• The circumstances of the exposure - including whether or not there was an unprovoked attack and whether the animal exhibited abnormal behavior.

Table 1: Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Guide: Human Rabies Prevention - United States, 2008

* During the 10-day quarantine period, begin post-exposure prophylaxis at the first sign of rabies in a dog, cat, or ferret that has exposed someone. If the animal exhibits clinical signs of rabies, it should be euthanized immediately and tested.
† Post-exposure prophylaxis should be initiated as soon as possible following exposure to such wildlife. Unless the animal is available for testing and public health authorities are facilitating expeditious laboratory testing, or the animal has already tested negative for rabies. Discontinue vaccine if appropriate laboratory diagnostic test (i.e., the direct fluorescent antibody test) is negative.
§ The animal should be euthanized and tested as soon as possible. Holding for observation is not recommended.

Non-Bite Exposures

Rabies from non-bite exposures is rare; however, non-bite exposures as a potential for rabies transmission require assessment.

PEP should be considered in the event of the introduction of fresh saliva and/or neural tissue from a known or suspected rabid animal into an open wound, fresh scratch or abrasion, or mucous membrane.

• CDC: How is Rabies Transmitted?

Bat Exposures

The majority of human rabies cases reported in the United States in the last few decades have been attributed to exposures to bats that were unrecognized as a risk for rabies transmission.

Bat bites cause minimal trauma making identification of a wound difficult. A potential exposure to a bat requires a thorough evaluation if the bat is not available for testing. Bat exposures are defined as:

1. Waking up to find a bat in your room;
2. Finding a bat where children, pets, or persons with impaired mental capacity (intoxicated or mentally disabled) have been left unattended;
3. A pet or person that has been in direct contact with a bat.

If possible, bats involved in potential human exposures should be safely collected and submitted for rabies testing. The majority of bats submitted for testing are not rabid. Timely rabies testing will eliminate the need for risk assessments and unnecessary prophylaxis.

PEP may be indicated if a potential bat exposure cannot be ruled out. If the person can be reasonably certain a bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure did not occur, or the bat tested negative for rabies, post-exposure prophylaxis is not necessary.

Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Schedule and Administration Guidance

All post-exposure treatment should begin with immediate and thorough cleansing of all wounds with soap and warm water. If available, a virucidal agent, such as povidine-iodine solution, should be used to irrigate the wounds.

• CDC: Rabies ACIP Recommendations

Consultation with a DHEC Medical Consultant is recommended for any patient that does not receive the vaccine by the recommended post-exposure prophylaxis schedule. The DHEC consultant can assist in determining the appropriate schedule for completing the series and in determining whether Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) titers are indicated to assess the adequacy of the immune response.

* These regimens are applicable for persons in all age groups, including children.
† The deltoid area is the only acceptable site of vaccination for adults and older children. For younger children, the outer aspect of the thigh may be used. Vaccine should never be administered in the gluteal area.
§ Day 0 is the day dose 1 of vaccine is administered.
¶ For persons with immunosuppression, rabies PEP should be administered using all 5 doses of vaccine on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28.
** Any person with a history of pre-exposure vaccination with HDCV, PCECV, or rabies vaccine adsorbed (RVA); prior PEP with HDCV, PCECV or RVA; or previous vaccination with any other type of rabies vaccine and a documented history of antibody response to the prior vaccination.
Source: Use of a Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Human Rabies: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices MMWR 2010:59(RR02);1-9.

DHEC Contacts for Reporting Animal Incidents or Medical Consultation

During working hours, animal bites may be reported to the DHEC Bureau of Environmental Health Services Offices. DHEC physicians are available for medical consultation to assist with rabies risk assessment. Please call the number listed for the county of occurrence for assistance. On nights, weekends or holidays, call 1-888-847-0902 (option 2) and the answering service will route calls to the appropriate DHEC responder.

Animal Incident Reports & Medical Consultation

Please contact your local Public Health Services office for Animal Incidents or Medical Consultation.

Serologic Testing by Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT)

Every attempt should be made to adhere to the recommended vaccination schedules. Once vaccination is initiated, delays of a few days for individual doses are unimportant, but the effect of longer lapses is unknown. For most minor deviations from the schedule, vaccination can be resumed as though the patient were on schedule. When substantial deviations from the schedule occur, immune status should be assessed by performing serologic testing 7 - 14 days after administration of the final dose in the series.

Per ACIP guidance, the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) gives an indicator of adaptive immune response to rabies vaccination. Complete virus neutralization at a 1:5 serum dilution by the RFFIT is an indicator of an adequate immune response.

The medical plan for patients who are not vaccinated on schedule, do not demonstrate an adequate antibody response when tested, or are immunocompromised is best managed on a case-by-case basis incorporating consultation between the patient's private provider, a DHEC Medical Consultant and the CDC Rabies Section Consultant.

DHEC does not provide the RFFIT. The following laboratories perform RFFIT:

• Atlanta Health Associates: www.atlantahealth.net
• Kansas State University: http://www.ksvdl.org/rabies-laboratory/

CDC performs serologic testing with a more rapid turn-around-time than private labs, but CDC testing is only available through the request of the state health department.

Manufacturers and Distributors of Rabies Biologics

Table 3. Rabies Vaccines and Immunoglobulin Available in the United States

Ordering rabies biologics will be simpler for health care providers that have established accounts with vaccine suppliers. Contacts for vaccine manufactures and distributors are provided below to assist in locating rabies biologics. Contact the DHEC Immunization Division at 803-898-0460 for assistance in ordering rabies PEP biologics if needed.

Rabies Vaccine

Sanofi Pasteur - Imovax®
Phone: 1-800-822-2463
Website: http://www.sanofipasteur.us/

Human Rabies Immune Globulin

Sanofi Pasteur - Imogam®
Phone: 1-800-822-2463
Website: http://www.sanofipasteur.us/

Grifols - HyperRab ^TM
Phone: 1-833-504-9983
Website: https://www.hypermunes.com/en/hcp

Kedrion - KEDRAB®
Phone: 1-866-234-3732
Website: https://mykedrab.medmonk.com/

CDC works with partners to monitor the status of rabies biologic samples.

Programs for Uninsured and Underinsured Patients

Patient assistance programs that provide medications to uninsured or underinsured patients are available for rabies vaccine and Immune globulin.

• CDC: Rabies Medical Support Programs