Section R386-702-12 - [Effective until 6/11/2024] Special Measures for Control of Rabies(1) Rationale of treatment is as follows: A physician must evaluate individually each exposure to possible rabies infection. The physician shall also consult with local or state public health officials if questions arise about the need for rabies prophylaxis.
(2) Management of biting animals is as follows:(a) A healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person shall be confined and observed at least daily for ten days from the date of bite, regardless of vaccination status, as specified by local animal control ordinances. It is recommended that rabies vaccine not be administered during the observation period. Such animals shall be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign of illness during confinement. A veterinarian or animal control officer shall immediately report any illness in the animal to the local health department. If signs suggestive of rabies develop, a veterinarian or animal control officer shall direct that the animal be euthanized, its head removed, and the head shipped under refrigeration, not frozen, for examination of the brain by a laboratory approved by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.(b) If the dog, cat, or ferret shows no signs of rabies or illness during the ten day period, the veterinarian or animal control officer shall direct that the unvaccinated animal be vaccinated against rabies at the owner's expense before release to the owner. If a veterinarian is not available, the animal may be released, but the owner shall have the animal vaccinated within 72 hours of release. If the dog, cat, or ferret was appropriately vaccinated against rabies before the incident, the animal may be released from confinement after the 10-day observation period with no further restrictions.(c) Any stray or unwanted dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person may be euthanized immediately by a veterinarian or animal control officer, if permitted by local ordinance, and the head submitted, as described in Subsection R386-702-12(2)(a), for rabies examination. If the brain is negative by fluorescent-antibody examination for rabies, one can assume that the saliva contained no virus, and the person bitten need not be treated.(d) Wild animals include raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, bats, the offspring of wild animals crossbred to domestic dogs and cats, and any carnivorous animal other than a domestic dog, cat, or ferret.(e) Signs of rabies in wild animals cannot be interpreted reliably. If a wild animal bites or scratches a person, the person or attending medical personnel shall notify an animal control or law enforcement officer. A veterinarian, animal control officer or representative of the Division of Wildlife Resources shall kill the animal at once, without unnecessary damage to the head, and submit the brain, as described in Subsection R386-702-12(2)(a), for examination for evidence of rabies. If the brain is negative by fluorescent-antibody examination for rabies, one can assume that the saliva contained no virus, and the person bitten need not be treated.(f) Rabbits, opossums, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, and mice are rarely infected and their bites rarely, if ever, call for rabies prophylaxis or testing. Unusual exposures to any animal should be reported to the local health department or the Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services.(g) When rare, valuable, captive wild animals maintained in zoological parks approved by the United States Department of Agriculture or research institutions, as defined by Section 26B-1-236, bite or scratch a human, the Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services shall be notified. Subsection R386-702-12(2)(e) may be waived by the Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services if zoological park operators or research institution managers can demonstrate that the following rabies control measures are established:(i) Employees who work with the animal have received preexposure rabies immunization.(ii) The person bitten by the animal voluntarily agrees to accept post-exposure rabies immunization provided by the zoological park or research facility.(iii) The director of the zoological park or research facility shall direct that the biting animal be held in complete quarantine for a minimum of four months for dogs and cats, and six months for ferrets. Quarantine requires that the animal be prohibited from direct contact with other animals or humans.(h) Any animal bitten or scratched by a wild, carnivorous animal or a bat that is not available for testing shall be regarded as having been exposed to rabies. The animal shall be placed in a strict quarantine for four months for dogs and cats, or six months for ferrets.(i) For maximum protection of the public health, unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets bitten or scratched by a confirmed or suspected rabid animal shall be euthanized immediately by a veterinarian or animal control officer. If the owner is unwilling to have the animal euthanized, the local health officer shall order that the animal be held in strict isolation in a municipal or county animal shelter or a veterinary medical facility approved by the local health department, at the owner's expense, for at least four months for dogs and cats, and six months for ferrets. The animal shall be vaccinated one month before being released. If any illness suggestive of rabies develops in the animal, the veterinarian or animal control officer shall immediately report the illness to the local health department and the veterinarian or animal control officer shall direct that the animal be euthanized and the head shall be handled as described in Subsection R386-702-12(2)(a).(j) Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are currently vaccinated and are bitten by rabid animals, shall be revaccinated immediately by a veterinarian and confined and observed by the animal's owner for 45 days. If any illness suggestive of rabies develops in the animal, the owner shall report immediately to the local health department and the animal shall be euthanized by a veterinarian or animal control officer and the head shall be handled as described in Subsection R386-702-12(2)(a).(k) Livestock exposed to a rabid animal and currently vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture for that species shall be revaccinated immediately by a veterinarian and observed by the owner for 45 days. Unvaccinated livestock shall be slaughtered immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have the animal slaughtered, the animal shall be kept under close observation by the owner for six months.(l) Unvaccinated animals other than dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock bitten by a confirmed or suspected rabid animal shall be euthanized immediately by a veterinarian or animal control officer.(3) Testing fees at the Utah Public Health Laboratory are as follows: (a) Animals being submitted to UPHL for rabies testing must follow criteria defined in The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control to be eligible for testing without a fee. Testing of animals that fit this criteria will be eligible for a waived fee for testing. Testing of animals that do not meet this criteria will incur a testing fee as set forth by UPHL.(b) The following situations will not incur a rabies testing fee if testing is ordered for them through UPHL: (i) Any bat in an instance where a person or animal has had an exposure, or reasonable probability of exposure, including known bat bites, exposure to bat saliva, a bat found in a room with a sleeping person or unattended child, or a bat found near a child or mentally impaired or intoxicated person.(ii) Dogs, cats, or ferrets, regardless of rabies vaccination status, if signs suggestive of rabies are documented in them.(iii) Wild mammals and hybrids that expose persons, pets, or livestock, including skunks, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons, may be tested.(iv) Livestock may be tested if signs suggestive of rabies are documented.(v) DHHS Office of Communicable Diseases staff are available to discuss additional situations that may warrant testing at (801) 538-6191.(c) The following situations will incur a $95 testing fee if testing is ordered for them through UPHL:(i) Any dog, cat, or ferret, with unknown or undocumented vaccination history that exposes a person, if signs suggestive of rabies are not documented, or if the animal has not been confined and observed for at least 10 days.(ii) Dogs, cats, and ferrets: currently vaccinated animals that expose a person, if signs suggestive of rabies are not documented, or animals have not been confined and observed for at least 10 days.(iii) Regardless of rabies vaccination status, a healthy dog, cat, or ferret that has not exposed a person.(iv) Small rodents including rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, voles, or moles; and lagomorphs including rabbits and hares.(v) Incomplete paperwork accompanying the sample will also result in a fee for testing; a thorough description of the situation must be included with each sample submission.(vi) DHHS Office of Communicable Diseases staff are available to discuss additional situations that may not warrant testing at (801) 538-6191.(d) If the submitting party feels they are charged inappropriately for rabies testing, they may send a letter describing the situation and requesting a waiver for fees to the: Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 142104, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, attention: Zoonotic Diseases Epidemiologist. Information may be submitted electronically via email to: epi@utah.gov, with a note in the subject line "Attention: Zoonotic Diseases Epidemiologist." (i) The submitting party has 30 days from receipt of the testing fee invoice to file an appeal. The letter must include copies of the original paperwork that was submitted, and a copy of the invoice received, for a waiver to be considered.(ii) DHHS and UPHL have 30 days to review information after receipt of an appeal request to make an official decision and notify the submitter.(iii) DHHS Office of Communicable Diseases staff are available to discuss questions about testing fees and the appeal process at (801) 538-6191.(4) Measures for standardized rabies control practices are as follows:(a) Humans requiring either pre- or post-exposure rabies prophylaxis shall be treated in accordance with the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service Immunization Practices Advisory Committee, as incorporated by reference in Subsection R386-702-18(2). A copy of the recommendations shall be made available to licensed medical personnel, upon request to the Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services.(b) A physician or other health care provider that administers rabies vaccine shall immediately report serious systemic neuroparalytic or anaphylactic reactions to rabies vaccine through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).(c) The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, as incorporated by reference in Subsection R386-702-18(5), is the reference document for animal vaccine use.(d) A county, city, town, or other political subdivision that requires licensure of animals shall also require rabies vaccination as a prerequisite to obtaining a license.(e) Animal rabies vaccinations are valid only if performed by or under the direction of a licensed veterinarian in accordance with The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.(f) Agencies and veterinarians administering vaccine shall document each vaccination on the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) form number 51, Rabies Vaccination Certificate, that can be obtained from vaccine manufacturers. The agency or veterinarian shall provide a copy of the report to the animal's owner. Computer-generated forms containing the same information are also acceptable.(g) Animal rabies vaccines may be sold or otherwise provided only to licensed veterinarians or veterinary biologic supply firms. Animal rabies vaccine may be purchased by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.(5) Measures to prevent or control rabies outbreaks are as follows: (a) The most important single factor in preventing human rabies is the maintenance of high levels of immunity in the pet dog, cat, and ferret populations through vaccination. Vaccination requirements include: (i) any dog, cat, and ferret in Utah should be immunized against rabies by a licensed veterinarian; and(ii) local governments should establish effective programs to ensure vaccination of any dogs, cats, and ferrets and to remove strays and unwanted animals.(b) If the Utah Department of Health and Human Services determines that a rabies outbreak is present in an area of the state, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services may require that: (i) any dog, cat, and ferret in that area and adjacent areas be vaccinated or revaccinated against rabies as appropriate for each animal's age;(ii) any such animal be kept under the control of its owner at all times until the Utah Department of Health and Human Services declares the outbreak to be resolved;(iii) an owner who does not have an animal vaccinated or revaccinated surrender the animal for confinement and possible destruction; and(iv) such animals found at-large be confined and possibly destroyed.Utah Admin. Code R386-702-12
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2015-1, effective 12/15/2014Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-5, effective 2/11/2016Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2017-4, effective 1/27/2017Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2018-2, effective 1/2/2018Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2019-22, effective 11/1/2019Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-18, effective 9/8/2020Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-07, effective 3/14/2023Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2024-05, effective 2/12/2024, exp. 6/11/2024 (Emergency)