Rabies

As part of St. Elizabeth’s mission to become one of the healthiest communities in America, we have developed a collaborative partnership with the Northern Kentucky Health Department for the protection of the community against the rabies virus.

As part of this partnership between Northern Kentucky Health Department and St. Elizabeth Healthcare, St. Elizabeth has established a plan to be the sole distributor of outpatient rabies vaccines in Northern Kentucky. This program will be provided through the Injection Center at the Maternal Fetal Center, which is located on the third floor of St. Elizabeth Edgewood off the Central elevators. It is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and appointments are required.  Emergency treatment can still be received at all local Urgent Care facilities and Emergency Departments.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus which is transmitted to humans via bites, licks or scratches by infected animals, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, dogs, cats, coyotes, ferrets, foxes and other mammals.

What does an infected animal look like?

The animal may appear agitated, bite or snap, and drool excessively. They may appear excessively drunk or wobbly, act partially paralyzed or disorientated, or may bite or gnaw on itself.

Reference – http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/facts/rabies.html#Signs

What is the impact on humans?

Treatment and follow-up are the most important things you can do to protect you and your family.  Symptoms can come weeks, months or up to a year after a bite or exposure. Immediate symptoms may be discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite. Other symptoms may include pain, fatigue, headaches, fever and irritability and these may last for days. Rabies virus affects the brain and nervous system and as the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and insomnia. Once these clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal to humans.

For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.

What can I do to protect myself?

To prevent expose:

  • Vaccinate your pet.
  • Maintain control of your pets to reduce their exposure to wildlife.
  • Report any stray or ill animals to animal control.
  • Protect your home from mammals like bats and raccoons.

Vaccination:

  • Preventive Rabies vaccine is given to people at high risk of rabies due to exposure, such as animal control or emergency service personnel.
  • Disease prevention includes administration of antibodies, through an injection of human immune globulin and a round of four injections with rabies vaccine.
  • Rabies vaccine is made from killed rabies virus and cannot cause rabies.
  • If you have been previously vaccinated, two follow-up boosters are recommended for this exposure.

I was exposed, what should I do?

You should consider yourself exposed if:

  • You were sleeping in a home while a bat was in the house, even if you have no obvious bite.
  • You were bitten, licked or scratched by an animal you do not know or that appears to be infected.

If you have an obvious bite:

Seek medical attention immediately at the nearest Emergency Room or with your Primary Care physician.

If you have been vaccinated before today:

You will need to get two booster vaccines. The first today and the second in approximately three days. Rabies Immune Globulin is not needed.

If you have never been vaccinated before:

You will need to receive Rabies Immune Globulin to booster your immune system and begin the four-injection series of the Rabies vaccine. Your first visit will consist of the two injections- the Rabies Immune Globulin and vaccine 1. On approximately day 3, you will receive vaccine 2; on day 7, you will receive vaccine 3; and on day 14, you will receive vaccine 4.

Animal testing:

  • Get a description of the animal that bit or scratched you or, if possible, safely confine the animal so it can be quarantined. The quarantine is 10 days. Rabies-infected animals can only transmit the disease after symptoms have developed. Infected animals typically will die within 10 days.
  • Contact the local animal control officer if it is a stray or wild animal or for more information.
  • Unfortunately, because Rabies affects the brain, an animal can only be tested for rabies after it has died. Contact the Northern Kentucky Health Department or your local animal control office for more information on Rabies testing.

Reference – https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/specific_groups/veterinarians/testing.html

I have read this information, now what?

  • You were bitten or scratch and have a wound. You need to get immediate treatment from your primary care physician, an urgent care facility, or your local emergency department.

  • You have already received your Immune Globulin injection and your first dose of the rabies vaccine at the Emergency Department, Urgent Care office, physician or the Health Department. Call St. Elizabeth Healthcare at (877) 424-5750 to schedule the remaining 3 injections of your vaccine series. These are due on approximately day 3, day 7 and day 14.

  • You have no wound and need preventive vaccinations. Call St. Elizabeth Healthcare at (877) 424-5750 to schedule the vaccine series. You should receive the Rabies Immune Globulin and Vaccine injection #1 within the next 24 hours. Then the remaining three injections on approximately day 3, day 7 and day 14.

To learn more about rabies, please visit:

Northern Kentucky Health Department
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention