RABIES
(Animal)

Wisconsin Division of Public Health Disease Surveillance Manual (EpiNet, July 2005)

I. IDENTIFICATION

A. CLINICAL DESCRIPTION: An almost invariably fatal acute encephalomyelitis caused by the rabies virus.

B. REPORTING CRITERIA: Laboratory confirmation.

C. LABORATORY CRITERIA FOR CONFIRMATION:

• Detection of rabies viral antigens by direct fluorescent antibody test performed on central nervous system tissue, OR
• Isolation of rabies virus in cell culture or an inoculated laboratory animal.

D. WISCONSIN CASE DEFINITION: A laboratory confirmed infection with rabies virus.

II. ACTIONS REQUIRED / PREVENTION MEASURES

A. WISCONSIN DISEASE SURVEILLANCE: None required. The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene notifies DPH and LHDs of positive rabies diagnoses.

B. EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORTS REQUESTED: None requested.

C. PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS:

• For general follow-up on animal bites sustained by humans consult the Wisconsin Rabies Prevention Flowchart at: http://hanplus.wisc.edu/DISEASES/rabies/introduction.htm
• For follow-up on known rabid animals, ascertain the nature of all physical contact the animal had with humans or other animals during the two weeks prior to its onset of clinical signs. Obtain information regarding contact with saliva or saliva-contaminated fomites during this time period.

III. CONTACTS FOR CONSULTATION

A. BCDP / COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION: (608) 267-7321.

B. WSLH / RABIES UNIT: (608) 262-7323.

C. For animal-on-animal exposures, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION / ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION: (608) 224-4888.

IV. RELATED REFERENCES

1. “Rabies” DPH Disease Fact Sheet Series: View a list of all current Communicable Disease Fact Sheets

2. “Diagnosis of Rabies”. Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. (Brochure; Rev. 7/96)

3. Compendium on Animal Rabies Control, 2005. http://www.nasphv.org/83416/83301.html

4. Bat Rabies: Update on Management of Patients with History of Bat Exposure. Wisconsin Epidemiology Bulletin (WEB), 1996;17(2).

5. Heymann DL, ed. RABIES. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 18 th ed. Washington , DC : American Public Health Association, 2004:438-447.

6. Rabies Prevention - United States , 1991: Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). MMWR 1991; 40(No. RR-3): 1-19.

7. Wisconsin Rabies Prevention Flowchart . http://hanplus.wisc.edu/DISEASES/rabies/introduction.htm

V. DISEASE TRENDS

The primary reservoir of rabies in Wisconsin is the skunk. The entire state is considered endemic for wildlife rabies.

Positive Animal Rabies Cases

Wisconsin , 1962 - 2004