What is rabies?
Rabies is a fatal viral disease.  It is carried by mammals, usually occurring among reservoir wild animals such as
raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

It can be spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. The rabies virus travels from the site of the bite along the nerves until it reaches the brain, where it causes encephalopathy and ultimately death if medical care is not received before symptoms start.

Immediate medical attention following suspected rabies exposure is critical. Medical care following a rabies exposure is called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP. PEP includes wound care, a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a series of four or five rabies vaccines, which must be administered as soon as possible after exposure. This care is vital to prevent the disease from developing. It is nearly 100% effective if administered promptly. Each year, 60,000 Americans receive PEP after a potential rabies exposure.

The disease is rare in humans in the United States, with fewer than 10 deaths reported each year. Still, rabies poses a serious public health threat, because of its high death rate in people. It is also present in many wildlife species, nearly 3 in 4 Americans live in a community where raccoons, skunks, or foxes carry rabies.

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How is the rabies virus spread?
When an infected animal bites another animal or human, the rabies virus is transmitted in the
infected animal’s saliva. Rarely, rabies may be spread when infectious material from a rabid
animal, such as saliva, comes into contact with mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose,
mouth, or an open wound.
In some cases, it can be difficult to determine whether a person or animal has been bitten by a
bat. Consequently, if a person or animal has physical contact with a bat, or may have had
physical contact while in the same room with a bat (e.g., while the person is sleeping), and the
bat is not available for rabies testing, a health care provider should be consulted to determine
the risk of rabies transmission.
What are the symptoms of rabies in humans?
Early symptoms of rabies in humans are non‐specific and may include fever, headache, tingling
or numbing sensation in limbs, and general malaise. Later, signs of encephalopathy such as
insomnia, anxiety, confusion, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty

swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water) may appear. Death usually occurs within days of
the onset of symptoms.
What are the symptoms of rabies in animals?
It is a misconception that rabid animals are spotted easily because they drool and foam at the
mouth. These symptoms may never occur or may occur only at the very last stages of the
disease. Rabies can be prevented in humans if medical care and post‐exposure prophylaxis is
sought soon after an exposure to the rabies virus. If left untreated, rabies is always fatal.

How can rabies be prevented?
Make certain that all owned dogs and cats are regularly vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian.
Teach children not to approach or play with wild or stray animals of any kind. Tell them that
even though a baby skunk or raccoon may look cute, it can spread very serious diseases. “Love
your own, leave others alone” is a good principle for children to learn. Also, do not touch dead
animals and keep wild animals out of homes and workplaces.

The rabies pre‐exposure vaccine regimen is recommended for persons at increased risk of
rabies such as rabies research and laboratory workers, spelunkers, veterinarians, veterinary
technicians, veterinary students, kennel workers, animal control and wildlife personnel, and
taxidermists. 
What should be done when a potentially rabid animal bites someone?
Thoroughly clean the wound immediately with soap and water to reduce the likelihood of
rabies transmission. Call your doctor as soon as possible for advice. Your doctor can consult
with the Georgia Poison Center (404‐616‐9000 in Atlanta, or 800‐222‐1222 statewide) or the
Epidemiology Branch (404‐657‐2588) to decide whether post‐exposure human rabies immune
globulin (HRIG) and vaccine are recommended for this bite. Your doctor can also tell you if you
need a tetanus booster or antibiotics for the bite wound. Provide your doctor with the
following information:
1. Type of animal involved (i.e., pet or wild animal)
2. Provoked (e.g., teased, startled, run past) or unprovoked attack
3. Type of exposure (i.e., bite, scratch, licking of an open wound), part of the body,
and number of exposures
4. Animal’s rabies vaccination status (does not apply to wild animals)
5. Sick or well animal and type of symptoms
6. Animal available/not available for testing or quarantine
What should happen to the animal if it bites someone?
Under certain circumstances a domestic animal may be placed under 10‐day quarantine and
observed to see if it develops symptoms of rabies. Cats, dogs, and ferrets will become ill and
expire within days of shedding the rabies virus
What should be done if a pet or livestock fights and/or is bitten by a wild animal or an animal
suspected of having rabies?
If the animal that bit the pet can be captured, submit the brain for testing. If the animal is
negative and your pet is not vaccinated, get your pet vaccinated.
If the animal tests positive and your pet is current on the rabies vaccine, talk with a veterinarian
about a booster shot. Also, monitor your pet for 45 days after the booster for any symptoms of
rabies.
If the animal tests positive and your pet is unvaccinated or does not have a complete
vaccination history, the recommendation is to euthanize the pet or to keep the pet in strict
isolation for six months. The management of animals potentially exposed to rabies should be
coordinated with local Animal Control or local Environmental Health.
W– http://www.who.int/topics/rabies/en/
• Georgia Poison Center – http://www.georgiapoisoncenter.org/
• Georgia Rabies Control Manual ‐ https://dph.georgia.gov/sites/dph.georgia.gov/Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.