Rabies

Rabies is an almost universally fatal viral disease afflicting exclusively mammals. It is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and is preventable with pre-exposure or timely post-exposure vaccines and other prophylaxis.  

Who Gets Rabies?

All mammals including humans are susceptible to rabies. Raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, woodchucks, cats, dogs, and cattle are most likely to get rabies. Rabbits, opossums, squirrels, hamsters, rats, and mice seldom get rabies. Birds, reptiles, and fish do not get rabies. 

How is Rabies Spread?

Rabies is almost always contracted by exposure to a rabid animal generally through a bite.  Exposures are typically any bite or scratch that breaks the skin or contact of saliva or infected tissues with broken skin. 

Casual contact does not constitute an exposure and does not require post-exposure prophylaxis. This includes non-infectious fluids or tissue (urine, blood, feces) or casual touching of an animal with no biting or scratching. In addition, contact with someone who is receiving rabies vaccination does not constitute rabies exposure and does not require post-exposure prophylaxis. 

Symptoms of Rabies

• Typically appear within 2-8 weeks
• Irritability, headache, fever, sometimes itching or pain at the site of exposure
• The disease progresses to paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, convulsions, delirium, and death

Treatment

Wash any wounds immediately. One of the most effective ways to decrease the chance of infection is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. 

The need for Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)  will be based on your type of encounter with an animal.  Rabies postexposure vaccinations consist of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine given on the day of the exposure, and then again on days 3, 7, and 14. The vaccine is given in a muscle, usually in the upper arm. This set of vaccinations is highly effective at preventing rabies if given immediately after exposure.  If symptoms develop, cases will invariably result in death.   

Preventing the Spread of Rabies

PEP can be avoided if the animal that caused the exposure can be safely captured and tested for the rabies virus. Any animal suspected of being a rabies carrier should be captured if that can be done safely. Contact the Wisconsin Humane Society (414-264-6257) or the Milwaukee Health Department (414-286-6800) to determine if testing is indicated. 

Exposure to rabies may be minimized by vaccinating all pets and staying away from all wild animals, especially those acting abnormally. Low-cost vaccines for pets are available at Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Commission - (414) 649-8640 or the Wisconsin Humane Society. 

Bat-proofing and Bat Exclusion

One common source of possible exposure for both people and pets are bats that enter people's residences. If you have an encounter with a bat, it is important to try to capture the bat in order to test it for rabies.  Click here to learn more about bat-proofing your home and protecting pets from rabies risks. Click here to find professional services that offer bat control and removal. 

How to safely capture a bat 

Learn more at: Rabies | CDC