Office of Communicable Diseases

Rabies

Annual Rabies Report
January 2001-December 2001

In 2001, 391 animals were tested for the presence of rabies virus. Skunks were most frequently tested, accounting for 137 or 35.0% of all tested, followed by bats (82, 21.0%) and domestic cats (75, 19.2%).

Rabies infection was confirmed in 72 animals in the state during 2001, for an overall positivity rate of 18.4% among all animals tested. Wild species accounted for 98.6% of rabid animals, and represented 75.2% of animals tested.

Examinations for Animal Rabies at the RI State HEALTH Laboratory January - December 2001, by City/Town and Species.