In light of the rabies outbreak in wild animals confirmed by the Council of Agriculture (COA) on July 16, 2013, the Department of Health convened an emergency Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting on July 17 attended by the committee members to discuss the outbreak situation. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has decided to amend the recommended target groups for rabies vaccination based on the decisions of the emergency meeting as follows:

• When bitten or scratched by wild mammals and stray cats and dogs in the three townships where the incidence of rabies in wild animals has been detected, including Yuchih Township and Lugu Township in Nantou County, and Gukeng Township in Yunlin County, as well as other aboriginal villages, please seek immediate medical attention and receive the self-pay rabies vaccine.

• When domestic dogs and cats raised in the three townships where the incidence of rabies in wild animals has been detected, including Yuchih Township and Lugu Township in Nantou County, and Gukeng Township in Yunlin County, as well as other aboriginal villages develop suspected rabies symptoms, the pet owner should report the case to the local township office and the local health authority immediately. After a proper risk assessment conducted by the competent authority has determined the pet’s need for post-exposure vaccination, the pet owner is advised to get the post-exposure vaccine for the pet.

• When bitten or scratched by wild mammals, excluding stray cats and dogs, in areas not mentioned above, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention and receive the self-pay rabies vaccine.

• When bitten or scratched by domestic cats and dogs not displaying rabies symptoms or stray cats and dogs in areas not mentioned above, it is not recommended to receive the self-pay rabies vaccine since the risk of contracting rabies this way is relatively low.
  
  Taiwan CDC urges the public to avoid feeding or contact with wild animals and not pick up sickened animals by hand. If bitten or scratched by wild animals, immediately wash the wounds with soap and clean water for 15 minutes and disinfect the wound with iodine or 70% alcohol and promptly seek medical attention for proper evaluation and treatment to reduce the risk of infection. Taiwan CDC reminds clinicians who encounter wild animal bite cases to remember to record the location where the bite occurred, the animal species that made the bite, and whether the animal has been retained for observation. If a patient is qualified for post-exposure vaccination, please contact a Taiwan CDC Regional Center or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, to facilitate the application for rabies vaccines.