MASS HUMAN EXPOSURE TO RABIES IN NEW-HAMPSHIRE - EXPOSURES, TREATMENT, AND COST

Objectives. This study assessed the rabies exposure and treatment that at least 665 persons in Concord, NH, received as a result of one prov en rabid pet-store kitten in October 1994. Methods. All treatment reci pients were interviewed by person of phone. Results. The median age of the treatment recipients was 14 years; 58% were female. The most comm on exposures were low risk (e.g., picking up, petting, nuzzling, or be ing scratched by a potentially rabid kitten). Local reactions to vacci ne or immune globulin were reported by 76.5% of recipients, while 48.8 % reported at least one systemic reaction, Cost for the biologicals wa s estimated at more than $1.1 million. Conclusions. Because of the ina dequacy of pet store records, the inconsistent application of treatmen t guidelines, and other factors, many people received postexposure tre atment as a result of contacts that were unlikely to transmit rabies. The rates of local and systemic adverse reactions experienced were con sistent with previous reports.