Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
05/31/05

FROM: JULIA M. ECKSTEIN
DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: Animal Rabies in Missouri

An unusually high number of rabid animals have been detected so far this year in Missouri. As of May 23, 2005, 18 animals have tested positive for rabies, compared to six animals for the same time period last year. (The total number of rabid animals detected in 2004 was 62 percent greater than the average annual total for the preceding ten-year period.) The 2005 cases include nine bats, eight skunks, and one horse. All rabid skunks so far this year have been found in the southern one-half of the state, with three of them occurring in Howell County. A single rabid bat has been found in St. Louis City and in four other counties (Buchanan, Jackson, Boone, and Iron Counties). In addition, four rabid bats have been found to date in St. Louis County. The rabid horse was detected in Douglas County; five persons are undergoing the rabies prophylaxis as a result of this incident.

Veterinarians, medical providers, and public health officials should be alert to potential cases of animal rabies, and possible human exposures, in their area and know how to respond appropriately. The following key documents provide important information on rabies prevention, testing, and reporting.

References

• Reporting Communicable, Environmental and Occupational Diseases . 19CSR20-20.020. http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/19csr/19c20-20.pdf
• Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2005 . National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc., Topeka, KS. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5403a1.htm
• Rabies Testing . Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, Jefferson City, MO. www.dhss.mo.gov/Lab/Virology/RabiesTesting.html
• Human Rabies Prevention – United States, 1999, Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056176.htm

The foll owing provides additional rabies information:

• Rabies Surveillance , Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO. http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Rabies
• Rabies Home Page , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
• Protection Against Rabies , Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 322. http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/c322.htm

Rabies in both animals and humans is reportable to the local public health agency, or to the MO Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) at 1-800-392-0272.

Rabies consultation for medical providers and veterinarians is also available from DHSS at 1-800-392-0272.

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