Guidance

Rabies: the green book, chapter 27

Rabies immunisation information for public health professionals, including updates.

Published 28 November 2012
Last updated 10 July 2018 — see all updates
From:
Public Health England

Documents

Rabies: the green book, chapter 27

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: 2018179 PDF, 75KB, 14 pages

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Details

Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis caused by members of the lyssavirus genus. The disease may be caused by rabies virus genotype 1 (classical rabies) or less commonly by rabies-related lyssaviruses. The presentations are clinically indistinguishable. Rabies-related lyssaviruses implicated in human disease include European bat lyssaviruses (EBLVs) and Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).

This chapter has been updated in view of the changes to rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment as agreed by the (JCVI) February 2018. These include:

  • changes in definitions of exposures and animal and country risk
  • clarification of the groups who should receive rabies pre-exposure immunisation
  • post-exposure risk assessment including Composite Rabies Risk
  • reduction in the number of vaccine doses for immunocompetent individuals to 4
  • change to the recommendations on the use of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG)
  • guidance on the management of immunosuppressed individuals.
Published 28 November 2012
Last updated 10 July 2018 + show all updates
  1. Updated chapter in view of the changes to rabies pre and post-exposure treatment.
  2. Updated the Body text to include link to NHS Choices.
  3. First published.