Healthcare Providers Resources for Rabies

No. A person exposed to rabies will be referred to their primary care provider, urgent care center or a hospital emergency room for rabies PEP.

Rabies post exposure prophylaxis is NOT recommended. If an unusual circumstance has occurred involving the bite, please contact the Acute Disease Service Epidemiologist-on-Call at (405) 426-8710 to consult regarding rabies risk.

Yes. The 72-hour time-frame refers to the time period an individual should look for the biting animal before obtaining rabies PEP.

No. If the biting animal is a dog, cat, or ferret, the animal should be observed for 10 days from the time of the bite or sent in for rabies testing. If the biting animal is a farm animal (cow, sheep, pig, horse, goat, etc.) or exotic animal (monkey, tiger, bear, etc.), the animal should be observed for 30 days from the time of the bite or sent in for rabies testing. The bite victim should contact their local animal control or their local county health department to report the bite and guidance regarding quarantine or testing the animal.

Yes. It is still recommended to infiltrate the bite site if the wound has healed.

You may contact the vaccine company or the OSDH Acute Disease Service Epidemiologist-on-Call at (405) 426-8710.

Human rabies is very rare in the United States. If you are exposed to a rabid animal, and post exposure shots are provided, the risk of developing rabies is extremely low. If you have questions about symptoms of illness following a rabies exposure, please consult with your primary physician or an infectious disease physician.

No. The Epidemiologist-on-Call will consult with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for human rabies testing if a physician suspects a person’s illness is due to rabies.

You can speak with the OSDH Acute Disease Service Epidemiologist-on-Call at (405) 426-8710.