RABIES SURVEILLANCE PRACTICES IN KANSAS

Abstract

Rabies is a deadly but preventable zoonotic disease. Through routine vaccination, canine rabies has been eliminated from the United States; however, spillover from wild animals continues to pose a risk to domestic species. Vaccinating companion animals protects their health and serves as a barrier between wildlife and humans, ultimately reducing human rabies exposures. The project objectives were to quantify the outcomes of animal contacts exposed to rabies and to validate post-exposure prophylaxis as an option for unvaccinated contact animals to avoid euthanasia. To achieve this, the project utilized rabies surveillance data collected by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to analyze the outcomes of animals exposed to confirmed rabid animals from 2018 to 2024. Exposed animals were classified by exposure level, rabies vaccination status at the time of exposure, and outcome. Additionally, a statewide survey was sent to Kansas local health departments to evaluate rabies vaccination ordinances and bite reporting procedures. Findings indicated that animals categorized with a high-risk level of exposure to rabid animals were significantly more likely to face euthanasia recommendations if they were not previously vaccinated for rabies, compared to animals that were up to date on rabies vaccination. However, the analysis validated the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocols, as unvaccinated animals that received PEP promptly and completed the required observation period did not develop clinical rabies. Furthermore, the survey revealed a lack of uniformity in local rabies ordinances, specifically regarding bite reporting requirements and the adoption of a standardized procedure. By highlighting current trends, these findings provide a framework to guide future statewide rabies prevention efforts and strengthen local responses.