Health & Human services

Animal Bite Reporting

All animal bites to people are legally reportable in Long Beach (except for rodent and rabbits, and non-mammal bites).  These should be reported immediately and must contain information on the animal’s location, if known. Wild mammal animal bites to domestic pets are also reportable.  

Bites from some animals pose greater risk for rabies infection than others. Depending on risk, the Health Officer will recommend the need for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Risk Levels of Animal Bites

High Risk

Bats – URGENT! Any bite, scratch or exposure
Sick dogs or cats – If the biting animal had an abnormal behavior including aggression (unprovoked attack), drooling, and neurologic trouble.
Foreign Dogs – If bite occurred outside of the U.S.
Sick Wildlife – If animals (coyotes, raccoons, skunks) had abnormal behavior
Recommendation: PEP will be recommended after medical evaluation and care.

Moderate Risk

Wildlife – If animals (coyotes, raccoons, skunks) were healthy with normal behaviors
Recommendation: PEP will most likely be recommended after medical evaluation and care

Low Risk

Local dogs and cats – If dogs or cats are healthy with normal behavior.
Recommendation: PEP will most likely not be recommended after medical evaluation and care.

No Risk

Squirrels, rabbits, rodents, birds, snakes – These animals do not spread rabies
Recommendation: PEP will not be recommended. Medical evaluation and care are still recommended.

Additional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis 
California Department of Public Health – Rabies Fact Sheet 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What should I do if I was bit by an animal?

  If you were bitten by an animal that falls under LOW or NO RISK:

  • Apply pressure if bleeding
  • Wash the wound with soap and water
  • Watch for signs of infection and call your healthcare provider if you are concerned about infection or if you are not up to date with your tetanus vaccine

  If you were bitten by an animal that falls under HIGH or MODERATE risk

  • Apply pressure if bleeding
  • Wash the wound with soap and water
  • Call your healthcare provider or go to nearest Emergency Room for additional treatment, tetanus booster (if not up to date), and if needed, the rabies vaccine and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG)
  • You or your doctor must report the animal bite to the Health Department. The health department will determine rabies risk, the need for rabies PEP, and notify Animal Care Services.

• What is Rabies PEP?

  Rabies PEP consists of wound washing, a dose of HRIG and rabies vaccine given at the time of your first medical visit, and a dose of vaccine given again on days 3, 7, and 14 after the first dose. Regardless of the risk for rabies, bite wounds can cause serious injury, such as nerve or tendon laceration and infection, therefore wound cleaning and medical consultation is recommended. 

• What must be reported?

  The state of California requires veterinarians, physicians, or anyone with knowledge of a bite to report: 

  Animal bites to humans from:

  • Bats
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Wildlife
  • Ferrets
  • Any mammal (except rodents or rabbits)

  Animal bites to pets from wildlife
  
  The following six animal diseases must be reported: 

  • Anthrax
  • Brucellosis (except Brucella canis)
  • Plague
  • Rabies (confirmed and suspect cases)
  • Tularemia
  • Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

  Additionally, veterinarians are encouraged to utilize the VDRS to report all other animal diseases and conditions listed on the Animal Reportable Diseases and Conditions list.  

• How to report?

  Report animal bites to humans, animal bites to pets from wildlife, and reportable animal diseases online via the Veterinary Diseases Reporting System (VDRS). 

  If you are unable to access the online portal to report an Animal Bite, please complete the Animal Bite Reporting Form here.  

  Send the completed form to:

  • Fax: 562-570-4374
  • Secure Email: LBEpi@longbeach.gov

  If you are not able to complete the online VDRS form or PDF form, please call the Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control Division at 562-570-4302.  

• What happens after I report a bite?

  After a report is submitted, you may be asked to give details about the event, victim, and the biting animal (location, species, breed). This information helps us investigate and determine the risk of rabies transmission.  

  If the animal is located, it is evaluated for rabies either by a quarantine and observation period, or by testing its body after death. Most reported bites are inflicted by dogs and cats. Quarantine periods for dogs and cats are a minimum of 10 days.  Biting livestock are quarantined for 30 days. Biting wild animals of high-rabies-risk species (bat, skunk, fox, raccoon, coyote) are only tested, not quarantined.  Wildlife of low risk for rabies are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

  Quarantine involves monitoring the animal for change in behavior, illness, and death.Animals that have been impounded by an animal control agency must complete their quarantine period in a shelter.  Many owned biting animals complete their quarantine in their own home, if they can be kept securely on site.   

  A report of a bite from an animal does not mean that the animal is deemed dangerous.  Animals may bite while playful, or the bite may be  provoked. Residents that believe an animal to be dangerous need to file a separate report with Long Beach Animal Care Services - Animal Care Services.