BACKGROUND: Rabies is a fatal viral infection transmitted through bites from infected animals that can be prevented by vaccination. Local public health agencies ensure that pets potentially exposed to rabies undergo correct quarantine or euthanasia. The updated 2016 Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control included substantial changes in recommendations for pets overdue for a rabies vaccine booster. We evaluated effects of the new Compendium regarding pet outcomes after known or possible rabies exposure.
METHODS: We examined potential rabies exposures reported to Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) for 8 months after implementing the 2016 Compendium recommendations. Pet exposure data was stratified by risk for rabies exposure, vaccination status, rabies testing results, and pet management. Exposures resulting in a different course of action on the basis of the new guidelines were compared with historical practices.
RESULTS: One-hundred four potential pet rabies exposures were reported to TCHD during May–December 2016; however, 36 (35%) events were excluded due to negative rabies testing. Among 68 remaining pets, management under the new Compendium differed for 24 (35%) pets with known or possible contact with a rabies reservoir species and no rabies testing to confirm exposure. Four of 24 (17%) pets were unvaccinated and placed in a 4-month strict quarantine, compared with the prior recommendation of a 6-month strict quarantine or euthanasia. The remaining 20 (83%) were overdue for a rabies vaccine booster and placed in a 45-day (n = 17) or 4-month (n = 3) home observation. In comparison, before May 2016, TCHD would have implemented a 90-day home quarantine for these 20 overdue pets. Management of 44 (65% of 68) pets was unchanged with the new Compendium, including pets exposed to a laboratory-confirmed rabid animal (45-day home observation for vaccinated or euthanasia for unvaccinated pets, n = 13); and pets exposed to a rabies reservoir species and up-to-date on rabies vaccination (45-day home observation, n = 25), unvaccinated (euthanasia or 6-month quarantine, n = 5), or overdue for rabies booster vaccination (euthanasia, n = 1). No pets placed under observation or quarantine experienced rabies.
CONCLUSIONS: Early adoption of the 2016 Rabies Compendium recommendations notably changed public health management of pets potentially exposed to rabies. Successful outcomes were achieved by using less stringent requirements for home observation or quarantine in accordance with the Compendium and reduced the number of pets euthanized. We recommend that public health agencies consider aligning rabies policies with the Compendium.