A central point of contact for reporting suspect rabid animals is a core component of rabies surveillance. The public, human, and animal health sectors should all know where to report animals showing possible signs of rabies. This reporting point is typically managed by the government veterinary department, however it may also be designated to a local animal welfare organisation, or may sit with the Department of Health.
In this section, we will provide information on how a central reporting service may be structured, how to screen notifications, and how to initiate a coordinated response to suspected rabid animals.