Mission
To test animal samples for the rabies virus to determine the possibility of human infection and facilitate rapid prophylaxis.
What we do
- Perform rabies diagnostic testing on animals that have exhibited symptoms of neurological illness and that have either bitten, or come into potential contact with, a person.
- Report findings to the RIDOH Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology in a timely manner to inform the course of treatment for individuals known or suspected of being exposed to rabies.
- Maintain a trained on-call group of scientists to conduct and interpret these results and report them rapidly.
What you should do
- Report animal bites or potential rabies exposures by using the Animal Bites Report Form.
- Submit specimens for rabies testing by using the Rabies Testing Submission Form.
Accomplishments
- In 2022, the laboratory tested 536 animals of which 27 (5.0%) were found to be positive for rabies virus. The highest number of tests occurred during the late summer months, but the data show that rabies-positive animals can be found all year long.