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Animal Bites


Animal Bites

Health care providers, hospitals, and veterinarians are required to notify local health jurisdictions of animal bites to humans.  The purpose of reporting is to assure appropriate rabies prevention measures are initiated after a bite, including observation of healthy dogs, cats, and ferrets; laboratory testing of wild animals; wound care and appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Local Health jurisdictions are not required to report animal bites to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) Section, however CDE staff are available for consultation on management of animal bites, animal rabies testing, and rabies as needed.

Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction immediately

  • Hospitals: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction immediately

  • Laboratories: no requirements for reporting
  • Local health jurisdictions: not notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section

 

Last update
June 2008

Animal Bite Resources

Reporting Forms

Animal Bite
Reporting Form

(PDF Format)

Public Health and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(PDF format)

Other Resources

Rabies PEP
Notifiable Condition page
Rabies PEP
Reporting Form

(PDF Format)

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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Consultation and technical assistance are available to local health jurisdictions in Washington State:
Phone (206) 418-5500

FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (inside Washington State only)  1-877-539-4344

Washington residents can contact their local health jurisdictions for assistance


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