Broward County Animal Care and Control

With the cooperation of Broward County Animal Care and Control, suspected rabid animals are quarantined and/or tested to determine if the animal may have transmitted rabies to a human or pet through a bite or scratch. The Florida Department of Health in Broward County also consults with patients, physicians, and veterinarians regarding the current recommendations for treating a rabies exposure.

Pre-Exposure to Rabies:
For those persons traveling to a place that requires rabies vaccine or if you work or visit an area where there is a good chance that you might be bitten by a rabid animal the Health Department offers pre-exposure immunization. Please call 954-467-4705. Please note that pre-exposure vaccine is a 4 dose series and must be administered 3 weeks prior to travel.

Post-Exposure to Rabies:
Human exposure to rabies most frequently involves the bite of a rabid animal. A rabies exposure is defined as any bite, scratch, or other contact in which saliva or nervous tissue of a suspect or known rabid animal enters an open wound, or comes in contact with mucous membranes by entering the eye, mouth, or nose of another animal or person.

If you have been bitten, scratched or exposed to an animal that has or is suspected to have rabies, please go to the nearest Emergency Room for wound care and prophylaxis.

The healthcare provider, to whom you present with the animal bite or other rabies exposure, has the responsibility to determine whether rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is required, to counsel you on the risks and benefits of PEP and to begin PEP as appropriate and available.

Individuals with potential rabies exposure, who have initiated PEP with their initiating healthcare provider, should complete the PEP with that same provider. If, for any reason, PEP has not been initiated as required or cannot be completed by the initiating healthcare provider, the exposed individual may contact the Florida Department of Health in Broward County’s Epidemiology Program at (954) 467-4700 Ext. 5575 to arrange for PEP.