Is rabies contagious?

Transmission can occur when an infected animal bites or scratches you, or when saliva reaches an open wound, the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching an animal’s fur, being near it, or contact with intact skin is not the usual route. Dogs, bats, foxes, and other mammals can carry the virus; the risk depends on the animal, its behaviour, and local public-health assessment.

Wash a bite or scratch immediately with plenty of soap and running water. Do not seal the wound yourself or wait for symptoms. Contact urgent medical care promptly and describe the animal, the contact, the time, and whether saliva touched broken skin or your face. A clinician may recommend rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, which can include wound care, vaccine, and antibody treatment depending on the exposure.

Seek urgent assessment after any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure from a potentially infected mammal, especially a bat or an animal that cannot be observed. Rabies symptoms can begin with fever, weakness, pain, or unusual sensations near the wound and later affect the nervous system. Do not wait for these signs before seeking preventive treatment.

Ask whether the exposure needs immediate prophylaxis, which vaccine schedule applies, whether rabies immunoglobulin is needed, and how to monitor the wound for bacterial infection.