Duty to Report
All suspected incidents of rabies exposures, including animal bites or other animal contact incidents, must be reported to Northeastern Public Health.
Ontario Regulation 557/90 (O. Reg 557/90) sets out the duty to report animal bite and contact information:
“A physician, registered nurse in the extended class, veterinarian, police officer or any other person who has information concerning either or both of the following shall, as soon as possible, notify the medical officer of health and provide the medical officer of health with the information, including the name and contact information of the exposed person:
- Any bite from a mammal.
- Any contact with a mammal that is conducive to the potential transmission of rabies to persons.”
Complete the Animal Contact Incident Report form, and telephone and fax Northeastern Public Health within 24 hours.
- Telephone: 1-877-442-1212 (press ‘1’ if calling outside of business hours)
- Fax number: 705-360-7324
Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (rPEP) assessment by healthcare providers
Northeastern Public Health will complete the risk assessment with the health care provider to determine whether the individual requires rPEP.
For information about assessing the need for rPEP, please visit:
- Management of Potential Rabies Exposures Guideline, 2020 by the Ministry of Health, available at: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-guidelines-management-of-potential-rabies-exposures-guideline-en-2020.pdf
- Management of Patients with Suspected Rabies Exposure, 2017 by Public Health Ontario, available at: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/R/2017/rabies-exposure-guidance-hcps.pdf
Contact a Public Health Inspector by calling 1-877-442-1212 (press ‘1’ if calling outside of business hours).