WIREDGOV

A new online training module for public health professionals and healthcare workers dealing with patients who may have been exposed to rabies has been launched by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Rabies is an acute viral infection that is almost universally fatal following the onset of symptoms, however prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies vaccine and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG, an antibody) is highly effective at preventing disease.

The HPA issues PEP to approximately 1000 individuals per year, nonetheless, there is still a lack of awareness amongst clinicians and public health practitioners about rabies exposure risk assessments, and when and how PEP should be used.

The training module, developed by rabies experts at the agency, provides health professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to undertake structured risk assessments of potential rabies exposures, and how to request PEP from local stockholders if needed. Interactive scenarios are included to reinforce learning in those undertaking the course.

The module is available through eHealth, an online education and training tool for NHS healthcare professionals and HPA staff. It can be accessed by logging onto the agency’s eHealth web link available on its website.

Dr David Brown, Head of the Rabies service at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), said: “It's important for public health professionals and clinicians to know how to assess patients who have been in contact with animals where there is a potential rabies risk. We hope that this new HPA module will enhance their ability to assess this risk and help healthcare workers to easily access post-exposure prophylaxis for patients.”

Last year the HPA reported a threefold increase in the number of people seeking post-exposure vaccine for rabies since 2000 which suggests that more UK travellers may be putting themselves at risk of contact with potentially rabid animals whilst abroad.

Dr Brown went on to say: "It's also important for UK travellers to remember that there is a risk of rabies through contact with infected animals, particularly dogs, in countries where the disease has not been eliminated.

"There are simple precautions travellers can take to avoid being infected such as avoiding contact with all animals, including bats.

"Anyone who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of an animal abroad should clean the wound as soon as possible with soap and water and seek medical advice immediately. Post-exposure treatment with vaccine and human rabies immunoglobulin is highly effective in preventing rabies, if given soon after contact with an infected animal.

"Travellers should also remember to seek travel advice before travelling to a country where rabies is still a problem, as it may be appropriate for them to consider a course of pre-exposure vaccine."

The HPA provides advice to health professionals on post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies, and issues rabies vaccine or vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin according to Department of Health recommendations. The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) provides advice on pre-exposure prophylaxis for travellers. 

Notes to editors:

1. This module has been developed over the past year to assist health professionals with assessment of patients who have been in contact with animals where there is a potential rabies risk. It is not connected to the recent case of rabies in the UK.
2. The new eHealth module is available to health professionals and is CPD accredited. It can be accessed from the HPA’s website by logging onto:
   http://ehealthlearning.org.uk/arena/index.cfm 
3. Information on rabies can be accessed from the HPA’s website here:
   http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Rabies/
4. To view a list of rabies risk by country, visit the following page on the HPA website:
   http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1259152458758  
5. The UK has been free of rabies in terrestrial animals since 1922, but in 2002 it was recognised that UK bats may carry a rabies-like virus, European Bat Lyssavirus 2 (EBLV2). Since 2000 there have been six human deaths from rabies in UK citizens; five of these in travellers following exposure in rabies endemic countries, and the sixth in a bat handler infected in Scotland. None of these individuals had received post-exposure prophylaxis. More information on rabies can be found here -
   http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Rabies/ 
6. The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) is funded by the HPA and is responsible for providing travel health advice to health professionals and the public. Country by country advice, which includes information about rabies pre-exposure vaccination, is available from their website at: http://www.nathnac.org/   
   A rabies factsheet for travellers is also available at:
   http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/rabies1.htm 
7. The Health Protection Agency is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. In April 2013, subject to the usual approvals procedures for establishing new bodies, the Health Protection Agency will become part of a new organisation called Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health. To find out more, visit our website: http://www.hpa.org.uk  or follow us on Twitter @HPAuk and Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthProtectionAgency
8. For more information please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 0208 327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk .
   
   Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on 0208 200 4400.