Section 690.601  Rabies, Potential Human Exposure and Animal Rabies (Reportable by telephone, facsimile, or electronically, within 24 hours)

a)         Reporting of Rabies, Potential Human Exposure

Definition of exposed person to be reported:

1)         Any contact (bite or non-bite) to a bat; or

2)         Any contact (bite or non-bite) from a rabies positive animal to a person; or

3)         Anyone who was started on rabies post-exposure prophylaxis; or

4)         Anyone with exposure to saliva from a bite, or contact of any abrasion or mucous membrane with brain tissue, saliva or cerebrospinal fluid from a suspect rabid person or animal.  Exposure to healthy rabbits, small rodents, indoor-only domestic pets or rabies-vaccinated dogs, cats or ferrets is excluded, unless:

A)        the exposure complies with subsections (a)(1) through (a)(3); or

B)        the animal displays signs consistent with rabies; or

C)        the bite occurred overseas; or

D)        there is reason to suspect that rabies post exposure prophylaxis might be or has been given; or

5)         Any bite from a wild mammal, not including small rodents or rabbits; or

6)         Anyone who was in the same room as a bat and who might be unaware that a bite or direct contact has occurred (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or intoxicated person) and rabies cannot be ruled out by testing the bat; or

7)         Anyone bitten by a non-human primate or zoo animal.

b)         Investigations

The local health authority shall promptly investigate all known instances of potential rabies exposure to determine whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis for the exposed person should be recommended.

c)         Control of Biting Animals

See the Animal Control Act.

d)         Reporting Animal Rabies

Any positive animal rabies test results shall be reported to both the Department and the Department of Agriculture.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4098, effective February 27, 2024)