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Pets
How
can I protect my pet from rabies?
Why does my pet need
the rabies vaccine?
What happens if
a neighborhood cat bites me?
What
happens if my pet (cat, dog, ferret) is bitten by a wild animal?
Human rabies
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?
Wild animals
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
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?
Pets
How can I protect my pet
from rabies?
There are several things you can do to protect your pet from
rabies. First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis
and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.
Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors
and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter your
pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly
cared for or vaccinated regularly. Lastly, call animal control to remove
all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may be unvaccinated
or ill.
Why does my
pet need the rabies vaccine?
Although the majority of rabies cases occur in wildlife, most humans are
given rabies vaccine as a result of exposure to domestic animals. This
explains the tremendous cost of rabies prevention in domestic animals
in the United States. While wildlife are more likely to be rabid than
are domestic animals in the United States, the amount of human contact
with domestic animals greatly exceeds the amount of contact with wildlife.
Your pets and other domestic animals can be infected when they are bitten
by rabid wild animals. When "spillover" rabies occurs in domestic
animals, the risk to humans is increased. Pets are therefore vaccinated
by your veterinarian to prevent them from acquiring the disease from wildlife,
and thereby transmitting it to humans
What happens
if a neighborhood cat bites me?
You should seek medical evaluation for any animal bite. However, rabies
is uncommon in dogs, cats, and ferrets in the United States. Very few
bites by these animals carry a risk of rabies. If the cat (or dog or ferret)
appeared healthy at the time you were bitten, it can be confined by its
owner for 10 days and observed. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed.
No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog,
cat or ferret held in quarantine for 10 days.
If a dog, cat, or ferret appeared ill at the time it bit you or becomes
ill during the 10 day quarantine, it should be evaluated by a veterinarian
for signs of rabies and you should seek medical advice about the need
for anti-rabies prophylaxis.
The quarantine period is a precaution against the remote possibility
that an animal may appear healthy, but actually be sick with rabies. To
understand this statement, you have to understand a few things about the
pathogenesis of rabies (the way the rabies virus affects the animal it
infects). From numerous studies conducted on rabid dogs, cats, and ferrets,
we know that rabies virus inoculated into a muscle travels from the site
of the inoculation to the brain by moving within nerves. The animal does
not appear ill during this time, which is called the incubation period
and which may last for weeks to months. A bite by the animal during the
incubation period does not carry a risk of rabies because the virus is
not in saliva. Only late in the disease, after the virus has reached the
brain and multiplied there to cause an encephalitis (or inflammation of
the brain), does the virus move from the brain to the salivary glands
and saliva. Also at this time, after the virus has multiplied in the brain,
almost all animals begin to show the first signs of rabies. Most of these
signs are obvious to even an untrained observer, but within a short period
of time, usually within 3 to 5 days, the virus has caused enough damage
to the brain that the animal begins to show unmistakable signs of rabies.
As an added precaution, the quarantine period is lengthened to 10 days.
For more information on recommendations about biting incidences,
quarantine, and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), see: Compendium
of Animal Rabies Control, 1997 and Rabies
Prevention - United States, 1999 Recommendations of the Immunization Practices
Advisory Committee (ACIP).
What
happens if my pet (cat, dog, ferret) is bitten by a wild animal?
Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous
mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as
having been exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed
to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling
to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for
6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Animals with expired
vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dogs and cats
that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.
For information on rabies in domestic ferrets, see: Niezgoda,
M., Briggs, D. J., Shaddock, J., Dreesen, D. W., & Rupprecht, C. E.
(1997). Pathogenesis of experimentally induced rabies in domestic
ferrets. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 58(11),
1327-1331.
Human Rabies
How do people get rabies?
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.
Can
I get rabies in any way other than an animal bite?
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.
How
soon after an exposure should I seek medical attention?
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.
What
medical attention do I need if I am exposed to rabies?
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.
Will
the rabies vaccine make me sick?
Adverse reactions to rabies vaccine and immune globulin are not common.
Newer vaccines in use today cause fewer adverse reactions than previously
available vaccines. Mild, local reactions to the rabies vaccine, such
as pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site, have been
reported. Rarely, symptoms such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle
aches, and dizziness have been reported. Local pain and low-grade
fever may follow injection of rabies immune globulin.
What
if I cannot get rabies vaccine on the day I am supposed to get my next
dose?
Consult with your doctor or state or local public health officials
for recommended times if there is going to be a change in the recommended
schedule of shots. Rabies prevention is a serious matter and changes should
not be made in the schedule of doses.
Can
rabies be transmitted from one person to another?
The only documented cases of rabies caused by human-to-human transmission
occurred among 8 recipients of transplanted corneas. Investigations revealed
each of the donors had died of an illness compatible with or proven to
be rabies. The 8 cases occurred in 5 countries: Thailand (2 cases), India
(2 cases), Iran (2 cases) the United States (1 case), and France (1 case).
Stringent guidelines for acceptance of donor corneas have reduced this
risk
In addition to transmission from corneal transplants, bite and non-bite
exposures inflicted by infected humans could theoretically transmit rabies,
but no such cases have been documented. Casual contact, such as touching
a person with rabies or contact with non-infectious fluid or tissue (urine,
blood, feces) does not constitute an exposure and does not require postexposure
prophylaxis. In addition, contact with someone who is receiving
rabies vaccination does not constitute rabies exposure and does not require
postexposure prophylaxis.
For more information on person-to-person transmission
of rabies, see: Fekadu, M., Endeshaw, T., Alemu, W., Bogale, Y., Teshager,
T., & Olson, J. G. (1996). Possible human-to-human transmission
of rabies in Ethiopia. Ethiopia Medical Journal, 34, 123-127.
Wild Animals
What animals get rabies?
Any mammal can get rabies. The most common wild
reservoirs of rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Domestic
mammals can also get rabies. Cats, cattle, and dogs are the most frequently
reported rabid domestic animals in the United States.
How
can I find out what animals have rabies in my area?
Each state collects specific information about rabies, and is the best
source for information on rabies in your area. In addition, the CDC publishes
rabies surveillance data every year for the United States. The report,
entitled Rabies Surveillance in
the United States, contains information about the number of cases
of rabies reported to CDC during the year, the animals reported rabid,
maps showing where cases were reported for wild and domestic animals,
and distribution maps showing outbreaks of rabies associated with specific
animals. A summary of the report can be found in the Epidemiology section of this
web site.
What
is the risk of rabies from squirrels, mice, rats, and other rodents?
Small rodents (such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils,
and chipmunks, ) and lagomorphs (such as rabbits and hares) are almost
never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to cause
rabies among humans in the United States. Bites by these animals
are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal was sick
or behaving in any unusual manner and rabies is widespread in your area.
However, from 1985 through 1994, woodchucks accounted for 86% of the 368
cases of rabies among rodents reported to CDC. Woodchucks or groundhogs
(Marmota monax) are the only rodents that may be frequently submitted
to state health department because of a suspicion of rabies. In all cases
involving rodents, the state or local health department should be consulted
before a decision is made to initiate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).
For more information about rabies in rodents and
lagomorphs, see: Childs, J. E., Colby, L., Krebs, J. W., Strine, T., Feller,
M., Noah, D., Drenzek, C., Smith, J.S., & Rupprecht, C. E. (1997).
Surveillance and spatiotemporal associations of rabies in rodents and
lagomorphs in the United States, 1985-1994. Journal of Wildlife Diseases,
33(1), 20-27.
Bats and Rabies
Do bats get rabies?
Yes. Bats are mammals and are susceptible to rabies, but most
do not have the disease. You cannot tell if a bat has rabies just by looking
at it; rabies can be confirmed only by having the animal tested in a laboratory.
To minimize the risk for rabies, it is best never to handle any bat.
What
should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
If you are bitten by a bat -- or if infectious material (such
as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound --
wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical attention immediately.
Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory
for rabies testing.
People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat.
However, because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are
not easily seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical
advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you
awaken and find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended
child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek
medical advice and have the bat tested.
People cannot get rabies just from seeing a bat in an attic,
in a cave, or at a distance. In addition, people cannot get rabies from
having contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or urine, or from touching
a bat on its fur (even though bats should never be handled!).
What
should I do if I find a bat in my home?
If you see a bat in your home and you are sure no human or pet exposure
has occurred, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows
leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably
leave soon. If not, it can be caught, as described below, and released
outdoors away from people and pets.
However, if there is any question of exposure, leave the
bat alone and call animal control or a wildlife conservation agency for
assistance. If professional assistance is unavailable, use precautions
to capture the bat safely, as described below.
What you will need:
leather work gloves (put them on)
small box or coffee can
piece of cardboard
tape
When the bat lands, approach it slowly and place a box or coffee can over
it. Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape
the cardboard to the container securely. Contact your health department
or animal control authority to make arrangements for rabies testing.
How
can I tell if a bat has rabies?
Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. However, any bat that is
active by day, is found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for
example in rooms in your home or on the lawn), or is unable to fly, is
far more likely than others to be rabid. Such bats are often the most
easily approached. Therefore, it is best never to handle any bat.
Travel
Should
I be concerned about rabies when I travel outside the United States?
Yes. Rabies and the rabies-like viruses can occur in animals anywhere
in the world. In most countries, the risk of rabies in an encounter with
an animal and the precautions necessary to prevent rabies are the same
as they are in the United States. When traveling, it is always prudent
to avoid approaching any wild or domestic animal.
The developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
have additional problems in that dog rabies is common there and preventive
treatment for human rabies may be difficult to obtain. The importance
of rabid dogs in these countries, where tens of thousands of people die
of the disease each year, cannot be overstated. Unlike programs in developed
countries, dog rabies vaccination programs in developing countries have
not always been successful. Rates of postexposure prophylaxis in some
developing countries are about 10 times higher than in the United States,
and rates of human rabies are sometimes100 times higher. Before traveling
abroad, consult a health care provider, travel clinic, or health department
about your risk of exposure to rabies and how to handle an exposure should
it arise.
Should
I receive rabies preexposure vaccination before traveling to other countries?
In most countries, the risk of rabies and the precautions for preventing
rabies are the same as they are in the United States. However, in some
developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, dog rabies may
be common and preventive treatment for rabies may be difficult to obtain.
If you are traveling to a rabies-endemic country, you should consult your
health care provider about the possibility of receiving preexposure vaccination
against rabies. Preexposure vaccination is suggested if:
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Your planned activity will bring you into contact with
wild or domestic animals (for example, biologists, veterinarians,
or agriculture specialists working with animals).
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You will be visiting remote areas where medical care
is difficult to obtain or may be delayed (for example, hiking through
remote villages where dogs are common).
-
Your stay is longer than 1 month in an area where dog
rabies is common (the longer you stay, the greater the chance of an
encounter with an animal).
If
I get preexposure vaccination before I travel, am I protected if I am
bitten?
No. Preexposure prophylaxis is given for several reasons.
First, although preexposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for
additional therapy after a rabies exposure, it simplifies therapy by eliminating
the need for human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and decreasing the number
of doses needed – a point of particular importance for persons at
high risk of being exposed to rabies in areas where immunizing products
may not be readily available. Second, it may protect persons whose postexposure
therapy might be delayed. Finally, it may provide partial protection to
persons with inapparent exposures to rabies.
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