Rabies / Hydrophobia / La Rabia / Animal Bites (vaccine-preventable)

Disease Information

Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to humans and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few cases are reported each year in the United States. Rabies is almost always contracted by exposure to a rabid animal. Exposure is usually through bites and the saliva of an infected animal in contact with broken skin. Scratches from rabid bats could potentially serve as source of infection.

• Learn about bats and rabies

Disease Reporting

What is required?

Health Care Providers and Clinical Laboratories

Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report cases and suspect cases of rabies to local health departments within 24 hours of diagnosis.

• See How and Where to Report for more information and local health department contacts.

For Local Health Departments

• Investigative Guidelines: Rabies (pdf)
• Animal Bite Case Report Form (pdf)
  
• Algorithm for animal-to-human bites in Oregon (pdf)
  
• Algorithm for animal-to-animal bites in Oregon (pdf)
  

Data

• Rabies data is included in the Annual Oregon Selected Communicable Disease Summary Communicable Disease Summary
  
• Rabies Tests in Oregon, 2000-2023 (pdf)
  

State rabies maps (pdf)

Compendium & Rabies Vaccine Certificates

• Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control (pdf) - American Veterinary Medical Association
• Rabies Vaccine Certificate (pdf)
  
• Rabies Vaccine Certificate, multi-use (pdf)
  

From the CDC

• Use of a reduced 4-dose vaccine schedule for postexposure prophylaxis to prevent human rabies (pdf) - CDC, 2010 (MMWR)
• CDC fact sheet - common questions about rabies
  
• Bats and rabies (Oregon Public Health Division)
  
• Bats and rabies (CDC)
  

Rabies Administrative Rules