Rabies
Rabies in Humans
Rabies and Pets
Wild Animals and Rabies
Bats and Rabies
Travel and Rabies
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.
Next: Will the rabies vaccine make me sick? »
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