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 free of charge. We deliver this vaccine to your office or the hospital, as it must be administered in a health care setting.
Please remind patients to report animals bites and scratches by displaying our Reporting Reminder poster in your office.
If you are reporting an animal bite/scratch and/or will be providing post-exposure prophylaxis, please report to Public Health by completing the Scratching/Biting Incident Report. If PEP will be administered, please complete and submit a PEP schedule.
Resources
- Management of Potential Rabies Exposure Guideline, 2019
- Rabies Cases in Ontario
- Rabies Cases in Canada – CFIA
- Rabies Immune Globulin-Sparing Guidelines for Ontario – Ministry of Health – August 22, 2019