Health Information Portal (HIP)

Animal Bites

Animal bites or other types of animal exposures such as scratches or contact with an animals saliva or brain material could potential transmit the rabies virus to humans. Patients with animal exposures may need post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to protect against rabies. Below are resources and guidance materials for healthcare professionals regarding animal exposures.

Animal Exposure Reporting

• Who: Animal exposure reports can be made for any individual (e.g. patients, students not under care, employees, etc).
• What: Report bites, scratches, or mucous membrane contact with animal saliva or brain material that could possibly transmit the rabies virus from any animal (wild, stray, or domestic).
• Why: We live in a region where rabies occurs among wild mammals. PDPH can provide services (i.e., 10-day observation of domestic animals, rabies testing) that aid the clinical decision whether to administer post-exposure prophylaxis to the victim.
• How: Call the Philadelphia Department of Public Health at 215-685-6748 and fax the completed Animal Exposure Reporting Form to 215-238-6947.
  *Provide information on the human victim and the animal including detail on its location.

Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Animal Exposures and Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

• PDPH Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Guidelines by Type of Animal
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations for Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Rabies Immune Globulin and Vaccine Information

• CDC Rabies Biologics
• Click here for PDPH guidance on the administration of rabies PEP and rabies vaccine ordering information.

Call the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Division of Disease Control for assistance with rabies PEP for uninsured or underinsured patients at 215-685-6742.

Health Education Materials

• PDPH Rabies Information and Prevention
• PDPH Rabies Fact Sheet

Resources

• How to report a health or safety concern in Philadelphia
• Homepage for Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT Philly)
• Rabies fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH)
• National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV)'s Compendium and Resources of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control
• Information about rabies from CDC
  • General information about rabies
  • Rabies pre-exposure vaccination guidance
  • Prevention information including information about pre-exposure rabies vaccination for international travelers (CDC Yellow Book)