Rabies Program

"Protect Your Family: Vaccinate Your Pets Against Rabies"

What is Rabies?

• Rabies is a deadly disease that can be prevented but not cured. It is caused by a virus that is spread by exposure (bite or salvia) to an infected animal. It is 100% fatal if not treated.

How is Rabies Spread?

• The rabies virus lives in the saliva and brain of rabid animals. It can be transmitted through a bite or by getting saliva or brain tissue in a wound or in the eye or mouth.
• Only mammals get rabies; birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians do not. Skunks, bats, foxes, raccoons, dogs, cats, and some farm animals are most likely to get rabies. Rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice, and pets like gerbils and hamsters seldom get it.

What Can I do, if I have been exposed?

• Don’t panic . . . but don’t ignore the bite, either. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and lots of water. Washing thoroughly will greatly lessen the chance of infection. Give first aid as you would for any wound.

• If possible, capture the animal under a large box or can, or at least identify it before it runs away. Don’t try to pick the animal up. Call an animal control or law enforcement officer to come get it.

• If it’s a wild animal that must be killed, don’t damage the head. The brain will be needed to test for rabies. Don’t let anyone destroy wild animals at random just because there may be a rabies outbreak in your area. Only a few wild animals will be carrying rabies.

• Call your doctor immediately. Explain how you got the bite and follow the doctor’s advice.
  
• Report the bite to the local health department.

How to Prevent against Rabies

• Vaccinate pets - cats, dogs, and ferrets need regular vaccinations

• Livestock can be vaccinated too.

• Don't feed or try to handle wild animals, no matter how cute they look

• Don't feed or try to handle stray animals

• Avoid all sick or strange-acting animals
  
• Cover garbage cans and don't leave pets food outside
  
• Don't keep wild animals as pets.  It's dangerous and illegal.
  
• Don't touch or pick up dead animals
  
• Leave live bats alone and don't handle dead bats
  
• Don't let your pet play with bats
  
• "Bat Proof" your house or other buildings with screens and cover up openings

What can I do if my animal has bitten someone?

• Tell the person bitten to see a doctor immediately and to follow the advice on the previous pages. Report the bite to the local health department. If your pet is a dog, cat, or ferret they will probably have you confine the animal and watch it closely for 10 days. Report any illness or unusual behavior to your local health department and veterinarian immediately.

• Don’t let the animal stray, and don’t give the animal away. It must be available for observation by public health authorities.

• Don’t kill your pet or allow it to be killed unless you have been instructed to do so by the public health authorities or a veterinarian.

• Check with your veterinarian to find out if your pet has a current vaccination.

• After the recommended observation period, have your pet vaccinated for rabies if it does not have a current rabies vaccination.

Rabies Statistics

Local: Animals Testing Positive for Rabies By Species, Central Shenandoah Health District: 1992-2007
National: Center for Disease Control Rabies Webpage
International: World Health Organization Rabies Webpage

Rabies Links

Central Shenandoah Health District - District Rabies Program
For Information Contact Your Local Health Department

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