Reporting and Treating Animal Bites and Possible Rabies Exposures

If you provide care for a patient who has been bitten by an animal - whether the animal involved is a pet, stray, farm animal, exotic pet or wild animal - you are required to report the name, age, gender, weight, address and telephone number of the person bitten to DHEC no later than the end of the next working day.

We will use the information to contact the patient (or if patient is a minor, their guardian) to gather information about the incident for a rabies investigation.

Treating Patients for Possible Exposure to Rabies

DHEC's medical staff can help you assess your patient's exposure risks and answer your questions about rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Most animal exposures will not require PEP. Certainly, if the animal can be located for quarantine or testing, it may prevent unnecessary PEP.

• Consult with DHEC's medical staff to assess a patient's rabies exposure and/or learn more about rabies treatment.
• Follow the steps in the following treatment guides:
  • Guide to Managing Animal Exposures and Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (DHEC)
  • Use of a Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Human Rabies - United States 2010 - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
  • Rabies Information for Doctors (CDC)

  Payment Assistance/Reimbursement for Rabies PEP

  If your patients are insured by Medicaid, lack health insurance, and/or cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket costs for rabies PEP, please consult the following resources:

  • Medicaid Bulletin - Clarification of Covered Rabies Procedure Codes (Sept 30, 2010) (pdf)
  • Medicaid Bulletin - Coverage of Rabies Vaccine and Immune Globulin (Aug 14, 2010)) (pdf)
  • Sanofi Pasteur's Patient Assistance Program (providing Imogam® Rabies-HT and Imovax® Rabies as well as other vaccines) - Call 1 (866) 801-5655.

  DHEC Lab Services

  • Read our guide to DHEC's lab services (pdf) to learn about proper specimen collection, submission and packaging, fees, and tests offered.

  Patient Handouts: Preventing Dog Bites

  Pass these tips on to your patients to help them prevent dog bites in the future.