In this Article

• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• Rabies Glossary
• Rabies Index

How can I protect myself from getting rabies?

Be a responsible pet owner:

• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection for you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

• Enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.
• When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America where dogs are the major reservoir of rabies. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries. Before traveling abroad, consult with a health care provider, travel clinic, or your health department about the risk of exposure to rabies, preexposure prophylaxis, and how you should handle an exposure, should it arise.

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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