{"id":9968,"date":"2025-03-01T14:01:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/rabiesvirus\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:41:44","slug":"rabiesvirus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/lab\/rabiesvirus\/","title":{"rendered":"lab\/rabiesvirus ~  Rabies Virus   &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n  \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\">\n\n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/lab\/rabiesvirus.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->Rabies Virus<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; 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Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<!-- Google Translate Element BEGIN -->\n\n\n\n            <div id=\"google_translate_element\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\n\n\n                    function googleTranslateElementInit() {\n\n\n\n                    new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en'}, 'google_translate_element');\n\n\n\n}\n\n\n\n                <\/script>\n\n\n\n                <script src=\"\/\/translate.google.com\/translate_a\/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\/**\/<\/script><br>\n\n\n\n            <!-- Google Translate Element END -->\n\n\n\n<h2>Did you know?  The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) is the only rabies virus laboratory for the state of Delaware.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rabies virus is transmitted to humans via through the bite or scratch of a rabid mammal.  Rabies infects the central nervous system with early symptoms of fever, headache, and malaise that progress to paralysis, hyper-salivation, and even hydrophobia (fear of water).  Rabies is usually fatal in humans (CDC, 2018).<br>\n\n\n\nDelaware experienced its first human rabies case since 1941 in August 2018.  The Kent County woman was probably infected in July 2018, and admitted to a Delaware hospital.  As her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to a Philadelphia area hospital where she subsequently passed away.  It is still unknown how she contracted the virus (Newman, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>What We Do:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"thumbnail img-responsive pull-right\">\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photo of Dog Brain\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/rabiesdogbrain.jpg\">\n\n\n\n<div class=\"caption smalltext\">Photo of dog brain tested at DPHL.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n<li>DPHL <strong>ONLY<\/strong> tests animal brains on animals that have exposed humans to their saliva.<\/li>  \n\n\n\n<li>The Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) will collect the animal, by dispatching an Animal Control Officer.<\/li>  \n\n\n\n<li>The animal is euthanized and transferred to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, where it is decapitated.<\/li>  \n\n\n\n<li>The head is submitted for testing at DPHL, where the brain is removed for testing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sections of the brain stem and cerebellum are affixed to slides and stained with a fluorescent-labeled rabies antibody. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the virus is present, antigen in the brain will bind to the antibody and will be visibly fluorescent under a microscope. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2>Submitting a Specimen<\/h2><ul><li>Specimens must be submitted through the Division of Public Health\u2019s <strong>Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (OIDE)<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul><p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2>What can you do to Prevent Rabies Virus?<\/h2><ul>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep rabies vaccinations current for all pets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain control of your pets outside and keep dogs under direct supervision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spay or neuter your pets to reduce the prevalence of unwanted\/feral animals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact the OIDE immediately if you think you have been exposed to a wild or potentially rabid animal (CDC, 2018).  Those exposed have a ten-day window to receive prophylactic treatment for rabies virus.<\/li><\/ul><p>\n\n\n\n<strong>Links:<\/strong>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p> <a href=\"\/dph\/oaw\/oawhome.html\">\n\n\n\nOffice of Animal Welfare<\/a> \n\n\n\n<\/p><p><a href=\"\/dph\/epi\/epi.html\">\n\n\n\nOffice of Infectious Disease Epidemiology<\/a>  \n\n\n\n<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/agriculture.delaware.gov\/\">Delaware Department of Agriculture<\/a>  \n\n\n\n<\/p><p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/rabiesrequisition.pdf\">Rabies Requisition Form<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong>References<\/strong>:<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/rabies\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  (2018).  Rabies.<\/a>  \n\n\n\n<\/p><p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delawareonline.com\/story\/news\/health\/2018\/08\/28\/state-does-not-know-how-kent-county-woman-contracted-rabies\/1119103002\/\">\n\n\n\nNewman, M.  (2018, August 28).  After rabies death, state says it doesn&#8217;t know how Kent County woman was exposed.  <em>The Delaware News Journal<\/em>.<\/a>  \n\n\n\n<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\nReturn to the <a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/viromainpage.html\">Molecular Virology home page<\/a>.\n\n\n\n<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\nReturn to the <a href=\"labs.html\">Delaware Public Health Laboratory home page<\/a>.\n\n\n\n  <\/p><p>This page was last updated 4\/2024\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  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If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p><p>\n  <!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n      <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Rabies Virus Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening and Testing WIC Additional Services Information A-Z [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9943,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9968","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9968"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11161,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9968\/revisions\/11161"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}