The incidence of human rabies in the United States, Canada, and countries of western Europe has declined markedly in recent years. Prevention of human rabies depends on eliminating exposure to rabid animals and providing exposed persons with prompt local treatment of their wounds, combined with appropriate rabies treatment consisting of both active and passive immunization.
Humans are relatively resistant to clinical disease.
Nevertheless, a physician should be consulted to assess the need for treatment following an exposure situation. While the medical decision to treat a patient potentially exposed to a rabid animal is that of the patient and his or her physician, the decision to provide post-exposure prophylaxis is often made in consultation with the Georgia Poison Center in Atlanta, local health departments, or the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, Georgia Division of Public Health. Rabies testing of animals is performed by state laboratories in Atlanta, Albany, Macon, or Waycross. Individual judgement is frequently required. This manual is intended to minimize the confusion that sometimes surrounds these decisions.