Rabies Surveillance

The Health Department maintains constant surveillance for the prevalence of rabies in the community. Any time a wild or domesticated animal bites a person it must be reported to the Health Department either by law enforcement or medical care givers so it can be investigated. Typically if a wild animal bites a person and it can not be captured it is recommended that post exposure prophylaxis is initiated in the form of a series of injections. When a domesticated animal such as a dog bites a human it can be quarantined at the animal control facility. If the animal does not develop symptoms of rabies it can be released by the Health Department.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/rabies/rabies-index.html

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