Rabies is an ongoing health concern for anyone who interacts with animals. As a health care provider, you play a key role in communicating the risks of rabies, as well as providing response to suspected rabies exposure.
What to do when treating rabies
If you are treating a patient who has a suspected exposure to rabies, the Ministry of Health provides post-exposure vaccine and rabies immune globulin free of charge. We will deliver this post-exposure vaccine to your office or the hospital, as it must be administered in a health care setting. Quinte Health maintains a supply of rabies immune globulin.
When administering PEP, health care providers are required to complete the Scratching/Biting Incident Report or submit form online.
Resources
- Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis Information Sheet for Physicians
- How to administer rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PHO)
- Management of Potential Rabies Exposures Guideline, 2020
- Management of patients with suspected rabies exposure: Guidance for health care providers working with your local public health unit
- Rabies Cases in Ontario
- Rabies Cases in Canada – CFIA
