Rabies Prevention and Surveillance

The Rabies Prevention and Surveillance Investigation program aims to prevent the spread of rabies in the community by investigating animal bites to humans. Rarely, people may contract rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

Any mammal can get rabies. The most common wild reservoirs of rabies include raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Domestic mammals can also contract rabies, with cats, cattle, and dogs being the most frequently reported rabid domestic animals in the U.S.

Environmental Health staff work closely with county and municipal animal control officers to investigate animal bite cases and submit necessary specimens to the state laboratory for testing.

While human rabies deaths are rare, the estimated public health costs associated with disease detection, prevention, and control exceed $300 million annually in the U.S.

To report an animal bite, please contact our office.

For more information and to view the new guidelines, please visit the Florida Department of Health website.