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What should you know about control of rabies?

How the structures involved in Rabies differ from normal
Illustration: How the structures involved in Rabies differ from normal

Short answer

Control of rabies depends on immediate wound washing, urgent risk assessment, post-exposure treatment and vaccination when indicated.

This answers one question. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment by a licensed doctor.

At a glance

First action
Wash and flush the exposure site immediately
Timing
Seek urgent assessment without waiting for symptoms
Decision factors
Animal, exposure, wound and vaccination history

Why rapid action matters

Rabies is a serious viral infection that can be transmitted when saliva from an infected mammal enters a bite, scratch, wound or mucous membrane. A bite may look small, and the animal may not be available for testing, so do not use the appearance of the injury to judge risk. Once symptoms develop, rabies is extremely dangerous; preventive treatment is intended to act before that stage.

Immediately wash and flush the area with plenty of soap and running water. Avoid sealing the wound yourself. A clinician or public-health service will consider the animal, exposure, location, wound type and vaccination history when deciding whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is needed.

After a bite or scratch

Get urgent medical advice after a bite, scratch or saliva contact from a bat, dog, cat, fox, monkey or other mammal in an area where rabies may occur. Do not wait for fever, tingling or other symptoms. If safe, record the animal description, location and time, but do not handle or capture it. Keep any vaccination documentation available.

When to seek care

Seek emergency care immediately for any possible exposure, particularly a bite to the face, neck or hand, multiple wounds, or saliva contact with broken skin, eyes or mouth. Urgent review is also needed if pain, tingling, fever, confusion, difficulty swallowing or fear of water develops after an exposure. Treatment decisions should be made by a qualified clinician.

Questions for your doctor

Ask whether you need rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, wound and tetanus care, rabies immunoglobulin, or a future rabies vaccination plan based on the exposure.

Find care

General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi

That answer is general. If you want it applied to your own case, these are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.

City
See every listing in Abu Dhabi

Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.

A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.

Questions people ask

Should I wait to see whether the animal becomes ill?

No. Seek urgent medical advice after a possible exposure; an animal may be unavailable or its status may be uncertain.

Can a small scratch need rabies treatment?

Yes. Risk depends on the exposure and animal, not simply the size of the mark, so obtain prompt assessment.

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Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.