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CDC – In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Rabies can spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. A person can also be exposed if their pet is unvaccinated for rabies and has contact with a rabid animal.
The leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the U.S. is from contact with infected bats. Bat bites can be small and hard to detect so contact your state health department or healthcare provider to assess your risk of rabies if you think you had contact with a bat.
Rabies in dogs is still common in many countries around the world. Before you travel internationally, find out if rabies is present in dogs, livestock, or wildlife at your destination. When traveling, keep your distance from wild animals and unfamiliar dogs and cats.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Rabies
The best way to avoid rabies in the U.S. is to keep your distance from wildlife.
- Never approach animals who appear to be hurt, sick, or dead, especially if you see animals during the day that are usually active at night (bats, raccoons, etc.).
- Call animal control to remove stray animals in your neighborhood.
- Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccines and keep pets away from wild animals as much as possible.
People who are bitten or scratched by an animal that may have had rabies should seek medical care right away. If the animal was potentially rabid, your healthcare provider may recommend you receive rabies shots (called post-exposure prophylaxis) to protect you from a rabies infection. Once rabies symptoms start, rabies is almost always fatal, so it’s important to get treated early if you are exposed to rabies. Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 people are potentially exposed to rabies, but fewer than 10 people die because of U.S. rabies prevention efforts and access to rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
When to Seek Medical Care
If you’ve had contact with a wild or unfamiliar animal, especially if the animal bites or scratches you, do the following:
- Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out any virus.
- Talk with a healthcare or public health professional about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
- Tell the healthcare provider or public health professional about the type of animal you encountered.
- Tell the healthcare provider or public health professional if you see any signs that the animal is not acting normally.
- If the animal that bit you is a pet, ask the owner for proof that the animal is up to date on its rabies vaccination.
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Information source: CDC
