Rabies Disease:
Rabies Disease is caused by a virus and produces acute encephalitis and is always fatal in humans. Once symptoms onset, the disease is irreversible. The virus, thought to be infectious to most mammals (including bats), is spread through the bite of the rabid animal. In some cases one could be exposed if the saliva from an infected animal gets directly into a scratch, abrasion, open wound, or mucous membrane.
To learn more about animal and human rabies disease epidemiology, disease reporting and case investigation, and controlling further spread please visit the following link to the Iowa HHS surveillance, investigation, and reporting guide (EPI Manual).
Rabies Exposure Evaluation and Treatment in Scott County
Exposure
If a person has been bitten by an animal, the Health Department encourages them to immediately wash the wound with soap and water and then proceed to report the bite to animal control and contact their health care provider for further investigation regarding possible rabies exposure.
Bat Exposures
The majority of human rabies cases are caused by bats carrying the virus. Bats are a special concern because their bite can sometimes leave marks not easily seen. As a precaution this may lead to situations where people should seek medical advice even in the absence of a bite wound. For example SCHD advises individuals to seek medical advice and have the bat tested if they awaken to find a bat in their room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person.
Following are Iowa HHS tools physicians may use when assessing possible rabies exposures.
Assessing Rabies Exposure and Care Coordination
While we encourage exposure victims to contact their physician, we also encourage physicians to coordinate with Scott County Health Department. Because of the lethality of human rabies, the expense of post-exposure prophylaxis, and our evolving understanding of its epidemiology, the Scott County Health Department wants to coordinate the decision making on the evaluation and treatment of possible exposures.
We are asking that when contacted by patients regarding mammalian exposures (including bats), you have the responsible individual in the involved household call the Scott County Health Department to provide details of the potential exposure. The Health Department will ask for:
We will then apply principles in the Iowa Department of Public Health EPI Manual and the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to decide about the need for post-exposure prophylaxis as well as requirements for abatement of any material threat of ongoing exposure. Consultation with the Iowa Department of Public Health experts will be made on an as needed basis. When recommendations have been formulated, both you and your patient will be contacted with the details by Scott County Health Department.
Rabies Treatment
The Scott County Health Department does not administer the post-exposure prophylaxis for victims of animal bites nor does the Health Department supply the medication. When a victim has been recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis, the Health Department staff person directs the individual back to their personal health care provider for administration of treatment. To view CDC treatment recommendations please visit the following links:
Current rabies post-exposure prophylaxis regimens using rabies immune globulin and vaccine are generally very well tolerated and compatible with administration in the office setting. We ask that you make every effort to provide these services in an office setting, to avoid the expense associated with administration in the hospital outpatient setting.
The Health Department Medical Director does not advocate the use of emergency room resources for the administration of the treatment.
Indigent Patient Programs for Rabies Post Exposure Treatment
Often there are questions regarding options for individuals who have had a rabies exposure who are uninsured, not covered by Medicare or Medicaid, and do not have the financial means to pay for the rabies post exposure treatment. Patient support programs for rabies post exposure treatment are available, however, the patient’s healthcare provider is responsible for application and inquiry regarding patients who may be eligible. Inquiries may be made to the following rabies treatment manufacturers.
Vaccine Update
IMOVAX rabies vaccine (human diploid cell vaccine) is available again. For the past two years, Chiron was the only company producing rabies vaccine. During the summer and fall there is tremendous demand throughout the U.S. for the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis biologics. IMOVAX rabies vaccine is now available through Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. For more information, contact Sanofi Pasteur at 1-800-822-2463 (1-800-VACCINE) or visit http://www.sanofipasteur.us
Patient support phone number as listed above is 877-798-8716
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Resources and Annual Rabies Summaries
For more information regarding rabies visit: