Pre-exposure measures
Preventive measures (vaccination) should be performed in the following occupational groups:
- Forestry employees
- Hunters
- Laboratory personnel with contact with rabies viruses
- Veterinarians
In addition, all persons who have contact with animals in areas of recent wildlife rabies should be vaccinated. Persons who have close contact with bats should also be vaccinated. Semiannual antibody checks are recommended for high-risk occupations. If the serum titer is < 0.5 IU/ml, booster vaccination is indicated.
Travelers should be vaccinated if they are at appropriate risk, as in trekking tours.
Postexposure measures
After a bite injury, the wound should be immediately rinsed extensively with soap and water and then treated with alcohol/iodine. The wound should not be sutured.
Measures should be taken according to the following schedule:
| Degree of exposure | Type of exposure | Immunoprophylaxis | |
| By an animal suspected of being rabid | by a rabies bait | ||
| I | Touching animals, licking skin | Touching with intact skin | No inoculation |
| II | Superficial, nonbleeding scratches; licking/nibbling on skin that is not intact | Contact with vaccine fluid when skin is not intact | Vaccination |
| III | Bite wounds/scratch wounds | Contact with mucous membranes/fresh skin lesions | Vaccination + rabies immunoprophylaxis. |
Rabies vaccination (inactivated virus) should be given on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28. Rabies immunoglobulin as immunoprophylaxis should be instilled in and around the wound and administered intramuscularly.
If contact with a rabid animal is suspected, the health department should be notified immediately.
