Rabies

Rabies in Humans

• How do people get rabies?
• Can I get rabies in any way other than an animal bite?
• How soon after an exposure should I seek medical attention?
• What medical attention do I need if I am exposed to rabies?
• Will the rabies vaccine make me sick?
• What if I cannot get rabies vaccine on the day I am supposed to get my next dose?
• Can rabies be transmitted from one person to another?
• How can I protect myself from getting rabies?

Rabies and Pets

• How can I protect my pet from rabies?
• Why does my pet need the rabies vaccine?
• What happens if a neighborhood dog or cat bites me?
• What happens if my pet (cat, dog, ferret) is bitten by a wild animal?
• I am moving to a rabies-free country and want to take my pets with me. Where can I get more information?

Wild Animals and Rabies

• What animals get rabies?
• How can I find out what animals have rabies in my area?
• What is the risk of rabies from squirrels, mice, rats, and other rodents?

Bats and Rabies

• Do bats get rabies?
• What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
• What should I do if I find a bat in my home?
• How can I tell if a bat has rabies?

Travel and Rabies

• Should I be concerned about rabies when I travel outside the United States?
• Should I receive rabies preexposure prophylaxis before traveling to other countries?
• If I get preexposure vaccination before I travel, am I protected if I am bitten?
• I am moving to a rabies-free country and want to take my pets with me. Where can I get more information?

Human Rabies

1. Q: How do people get rabies?

A: People usually get get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

2. Q: Can I get rabies in any way other than an animal bite?

A: Non-bite exposures to rabies are very rare. Scratches, abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes contaminated with saliva or other potentially infectious material (such as brain tissue) from a rabid animal constitute non-bite exposures. Occasionally reports of non-bite exposure are such that postexposure prophylaxis is given.

Inhalation of aerosolized rabies virus is also a potential non-bite route of exposure, but other than laboratory workers, most people are unlikely to encounter an aerosol of rabies virus.

Other contact, such as petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces (e.g., guano) of a rabid animal, does not constitute an exposure and is not an indication for prophylaxis.

3. Q: How soon after an exposure should I seek medical attention?

A: Medical assistance should be obtained as soon as possible after an exposure. There have been no vaccine failures in the United States (i.e., someone developed rabies) when postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) was given promptly and appropriately after an exposure.

4. Q: What medical attention do I need if I am exposed to rabies?

A: One of the most effective methods to decrease the chances for infection involves thorough washing of the wound with soap and water. Specific medical attention for someone exposed to rabies is called postexposure prophylaxis or PEP. In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Vaccination Schedule for Adults and Adolescents - Read the vaccination schedule for adults and teens, and learn about recommended immunizations for MMR, HPV, Td/Tdap, varicella, tetanus, shingles, hepatitis and typhoid.
• Tetanus - Get the facts on tetanus causes (Clostridium tetani bacterial infection), symptoms and signs (lockjaw), diagnosis, vaccination (DTaP) side effects, booster and treatment.
• Vaccination FAQs - Get answers for your vaccination questions, and learn about travel vaccines, immunizations during pregnancy and other vaccine types and dangers.

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