Guidance

Rabies: the green book, chapter 27

Rabies immunisation information for public health professionals, including updates.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 28 November 2012
• Last updated: 10 July 2018 — See all updates

Documents

Rabies: the green book, chapter 27

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

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

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. 10 July 2018

   Updated chapter in view of the changes to rabies pre and post-exposure treatment.

2. 19 April 2013

   Updated the Body text to include link to NHS Choices.

3. 28 November 2012

   First published.