What should you know about control of rabies?

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.

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.

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.

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