Rabies Exposure Assessment Algorithm

Person was exposed

1
to a domestic dog, cat or ferret
Hastheanimalbeen
captured?(Mayconsider
delayiniangPEPupto
10daysfromexposurein
ordertocaptureanimal
unlessunusual
circumstancesexist
2
.)
No
Yes
Opons
Quaranneanimal,
whethervaccinatedornot,
for10daysaerexposure.
PEPisusuallynot
recommendedatthisme
2
.
Veterinaryexamtobe
conductedatdayoneand
day10toassessthehealth
statusofanimal.During
quaranne,didanimal
showsignsofrabies
3
ordie
withinthe10days?
Euthanizeandsubmit
fortesng
7
.(PEPmaybe
delayedupto10days
postexposure,pending
testresultsunless
unusualcircumstances
exist
2
).Istestposive?

Yes
No
Yes
PEPisnot
indicated
Administervaccineand
RIGaccordingtoACIP
recommendaons.
Administervaccineand
RIGaccordingtoACIP
recommendaons.
No
PEPisnot
indicated

Personwasexposed
1
tosmallrodents
4
orrabbits
PEPnotrecommended.Ifunusualcircumstancesexist,
contactDivisionofDiseaseControlforguidance
6
.
Person was exposed
1
to a domestic animal such as
cow, horse, sheep, pig, elk or bison
Doestheanimalexhibit
signsofrabies
3
ordidit
diesuddenly?
Yes
No
ContactDivisionof
DiseaseControl
6
.
Istheanimalavailable
fortesng?
Yes
No
Administervaccineand
RIGaccordingtoACIP
recommendaons.
Testanimalforrabies
7
.(PEPmay
bedelayedupto3dayspost
exposure,pendingtestresults
unlessunusualcircumstances
exist
2
).Istestposive?
Yes
No
PEPisnot
indicated
Person was exposed
1
to a free ranging wild animal
such as a skunk, fox, coyote, raccoon or bat
5

Hastheanimalbeen
captured?
Yes
No
Administervaccineand
RIGaccordingtoACIP
recommendaons.
Testanimalforrabies
7
.(PEP
maybedelayedupto3days
postexposure,pendingtestre
sultsunlessunusualcircum
stancesexist
2
).Istestposive?
Yes
No
PEPisnot
indicated

Personwasexposed
1
tootherwildanimalkeptinazoo,
petstore,exhibitorunderthecontrolofaprivate
individual
ContactDivisionofDiseaseControl
6
.
1. Exposure:Denedasabitethatbroketheskin,orsalivacontacttoanopencut,soreorwoundortomucousmembrane(mouth,nose,
eye).Ifnoexposureexists,PEPisnotneeded.
2. Iftheanimalexhibitedanysignsorsymptomsofrabies(see3),iftheaackwasviciousorunprovokedorthebite(s)occurredinthe
headandneckregion,consideraonshouldbegiventostarngpostexposureprophylaxisimmediately.
3. Signsofrabiesmayincludeanyoneofthefollowing:excitability,viciousaacks,bing,agitaon,restlessness,aggressiveness,lackof
fear,excessivesalivaon,aversiontowater,inabilitytoswallowordrink,musculardysfuncon,coordinaonorgaitirregularies,
paralysis,convulsions,avoidanceofcontactwithhumansorotheranimals,lethargyandlossofappete.
4. Smallrodentsincludesquirrels,hamsters,mice,rats,gerbils,chipmunks,molesandvoles.
5. Batsposeparcularrisksandrabiestransmissionhasoccurredintheabsenceofarecognizedbite.Everyeortshouldbemadeto
captureandtestthebatinvolvedinanyexposureincident.Ifthepaentcanprovideadequatehistorythatnodirectexposure
occurred,thennotreatmentisnecessary.Ifthepaentisanunobservedchild,apersonwhowasasleep,intoxicatedormentally
disabled,thenpostexposureprophylaxismaybeindicated,especiallyifthestatusofthebatcannotbeascertainedthroughlab
tesng.
6. Forrabiesexposureconsultaon,contacttheDivisionofDiseaseControlat800.472.218or701.328.2378.
7. Fortesng,contacttheDivisionofLaboratoryServicesat701.328.6272orNDSUVeterinaryDiagnoscLaboratoryat701.231.8307.
Updated11/01/2013