Section 1 - Introduction and Information on Rabies in Washington State
Prevention of human rabies depends on eliminating exposure to rabid animals and providing exposed persons with prompt local treatment of their wounds, combined with appropriate rabies treatment consisting of both active and passive immunization. A health care provider or emergency room should be consulted without undue delay to assess the need for treatment following an animal bite.
Although human rabies is rare in the United States, the risk of infection must be carefully and accurately assessed in all potential rabies exposure. Administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is a medical urgency, not an emergency. The decision to treat a patient with a known, or suspected, rabies exposure is that of the patient and his or her physician. This decision is often made in consultation with the local or state health department.
Currently, Washington has no terrestrial animal reservoirs of rabies. Bats are the most commonly rabid animal in the state. Of 4061 Washington bats examined from 1960-1997, 358 (9%) were rabid. Rabid bats have been found in almost every county in the state. The virus likely occurs in all of the 16-18 bat species present in Washington. Other than bats, only eight animals from this state have tested positive for rabies since 1960. In 1976, an unvaccinated cat from Thurston County was found to be rabid. The following year, an unvaccinated dachshund tested positive for rabies. This was the last confirmed rabid dog in the state.
Two other domestic animals have been diagnosed with rabies since 1960: a horse from Benton County in 1992 and a llama from King County in 1994. The llama was infected with a bat variant of the rabies virus. The virus strain infecting the horse could not be determined for technical reasons. The only other animals to be identified as rabid in Washington since 1960 were four pet skunks. Two of the skunks were inappropriately imported into Washington and were likely infected out-of-state. The remaining two skunks were pets improperly given live attenuated rabies vaccine.
Reducing the risk of rabies in domestic dogs and cats and limiting contact with wild animals are central to the prevention of human rabies. Vaccination of all domestic dogs and cats coupled with the systematic removal of stray and unwanted, domestic animals that are at risk of exposure to rabid wildlife, are basic elements of a rabies control program. King County law requires vaccination of all owned dogs and cats with approved vaccines by a licensed veterinarian.
This manual is intended as a guide to assessing, managing and reporting of animal bites and potential rabies exposures. The basic elements of this process include:
- Making an assessment of the human exposure;
- Recommending first aid and rabies prevention measures when indicated;
- Arranging animal testing when indicated;
- Reporting animal and bat bite encounters to Public Health.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appendices
|
 |
|
|
|
To Section:
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
