Rabies Infection following animal exposure abroad 

Clinicians should be aware of the importance of a prompt risk assessment after animal contact abroad or a bat bite in the UK, and how to contact the UKHSA Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIGS). RIGS will then send out the rabies vaccine, and immunoglobulin where necessary, for administration locally.

Where a patient presents with a potential animal exposure, RIGS should be contacted between 9am -5pm, 7 days a week on 0330 128 1020 to support the risk assessment. Outside these hours, the on call service is focused on providing risk assessment andpost-exposure treatment for the highest risk rabies exposures only (these are exposures to the head or neck, or to an animal that is confirmed to have rabies). For other types of rabies exposures, the clinician should administer a dose of rabies vaccine (if available locally) and call back the next day after 9am.