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Rabies Control

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Rabies Control

Rabies is a dangerous virus that is caused by receiving a bite or scratch from an animal that has rabies. Rabies is fatal if not treated right away. Working immediately with law enforcement and Brown County Public Health is extremely important after a human is bitten or scratched by an animal. 

For questions about rabies, please visit the DHS algorithm. If rabies testing is recommended, please contact one of the the Brown County Veterinary Clinics HERE. The vet clinic may ship the specimen, but if not, contact Brown County Public Health for a shipment consultation. If approved, specimens may be delivered to Brown County Public Health (2198 Glendale Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54303) during normal business hours (M-F 8:00am-4:30pm, non-holiday weeks) for shipment to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene. Please keep the specimen refrigerated but do not freeze. For assistance in packaging specimens, click HERE. If you have an emergency outside of our hours, please contact the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene After-Hours Emergency Pager at 608-263-3280.  

 
For individuals, healthcare providers and veterinarians: The DHS Rabies Algorithm is a public tool used to prevent human cases of rabies and avoid any unneeded administration of post-exposure prophylaxis. Click here to begin!
 
 
Resources

CDC Rabies Website

Rabies Fact Sheet
Hoja Informativa Sobre la Rabia
Tus Mob Rabies

Educational Flyer 

Rabies Coloing Book

Wisconsin Statute 95.21 "Rabies Control Program"


 

 

Rabies Prevention Algorithm 

Rabies Provider Flowchart

Wisconsin Statute 95.21 "Rabies Control Program"

Frequently Asked Questions
Click HERE for frequently asked questions!
 


What to do if you have been bitten by an animal:
  • Wash the wound with soap and water as soon as possible
  • ​Seek medical treatment immediately. Your healthcare provider will assess your risk of rabies and provide care. 
  • Law enforcement must be contacted if the animal is a pet, a wild animal, or a stray animal so that the animal can be quarantined and assessed for rabies. If you are able, provide law enforcement with the description and location of the animal. 
 


It is important to have your pets vaccinated for rabies.
Wisconsin Statute 95.21, "Rabies Control Program", states that the rabies vaccination is required for dogs. Vaccination is not required for indoor cats, but it is strongly recommended if a dog also lives in the home. 
Click HERE to view a list of veterinary clinics in Brown County.

Did you find a bat in your home?
Per the Center for Disease Control, bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the United States. If you find a bat in your house, you may not know if it has bitten someone, especially children or people with reduced mental function. Reach out to your local humane officer or call us at (920) 448-6400. We can assess the risk level over the phone and direct you on the next steps to take. Do not damage the head of the bat, or else testing will not be possible.
 


The Nursing Unit, Environmental Health Unit and Support Services work together when an animal bite is reported to law enforcement.
Wisconsin Statute 95.21, "Rabies Control Program", requires that the animal owner must bring the dog or cat that has bitten a human to a veterinarian clinic to determine risk for rabies. The process is explained below:
  • Day 0: Day of the bite.
  • Day 1: First vet check.
  • Day 2-9: Second vet check.
  • Day 10: Third vet check.
If the pet IS up to date on the rabies vaccination, the pet must complete a 60-day quarantine.
If the pet IS NOT up to date on the rabies vaccination the pet must complete a 180-day quarantine. 
​Per the Wisconsin Statute 95.21(2)(a), the dog should be vaccinated at the end of the quarantine period (unless a specified exemption exists).