Reporting Rabies
(animal and human cases and suspected cases)

On this page:
What to report
How to report
Who is required to report 
More about infectious disease reporting
More about rabies 

What to report

Cases or suspect cases of rabies in an animal or human must be reported to MDH immediately 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Physicians and veterinarians may obtain information on rabies, including human exposure, prophylaxis, and bite management by calling 651-201-5414.

Case definition

• CDC: Rabies, Human Case Definitions
  Case definition from CDC's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) for human rabies.
• CDC: Rabies, Animal Case Definitions
  Case definition from CDC's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) for animal rabies.

How to report rabies

• Call 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 immediately to report rabies. 
  24-7 Phone Reporting
  This disease must be reported immediately by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Who is required to report

• Health care practitioners (health care facilities, medical laboratories, and in certain circumstances veterinarians and veterinary medical laboratories) are required to report disease to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) under Minnesota state law.
  • Unless previously reported, every licensed health care provider who provides care to any patient who has, is suspected of having, or has died from a reportable disease is required to report.
• Any person in charge of any institution, school, child care facility, or camp is also required to report disease to MDH.
   
• Persons Required to Report Disease
  More information about who is required to report disease.

More about infectious disease reporting

• Infectious Disease Reporting
  Find out which infectious diseases must be reported by law in Minnesota, who is required to report diseases, how each disease can be reported, and download the appropriate forms.