1. What is rabies?

Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of warm-blooded mammals, including humans. Once symptoms of rabies appear, it is almost always fatal.

2. How do people get rabies?

People are usually exposed to rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. However, people may be exposed to rabies by non-bite exposures. All bites, regardless of location, represent a potential risk of rabies transmission.

3. What is a non-bite exposure?

Scratches, abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth) that become contaminated with virus-containing saliva from a rabid animal constitute non-bite exposure.

4. What is the incubation period of rabies in humans?

The incubation period, which is the time period between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms, can range from 20 to 60 days, although it may vary from several days to years. The severity and location of the wound, along with the susceptibility of the person to infection, may affect the incubation period.

5. What are the signs and symptoms of rabies in humans?

Early symptoms are flu-like, including headache, fever, and fatigue.  Symptoms progress rapidly as the central nervous system is attached.

6. What medical attention do I need if I am exposed to rabies?

If you are bitten by an animal or if saliva from an animal gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound, then you should immediately wash the affected skin area with soap and water for several minutes.  If the animal’s saliva is on your clothing, wash it immediately in hot, soapy water.  Washing immediately can greatly reduce the chances for infection. Contact your doctor, or local Public Health Nurse, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.  Your risk of exposure to rabies must be assessed, and rabies vaccinations administered promptly if the risk of exposure to the virus is high.

7. How many cases of human rabies have been reported in Canada?

Human rabies cases are very rare in Canada. For the most recent information on the number of rabies cases in Canada, visit the Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Rabies section of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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1. What is the incubation period of rabies in animals?

The incubation period, or the time period between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms, can range from approximately two weeks to many months.

2. What is the period of communicability of the virus?

The period of communicability, or the time period that an animal can transmit rabies to another animal or human, is any time that the animal shows symptoms of rabies (if there is infectious virus in the animal’s saliva).  However, it is important to note that an animal is also capable of transmitting the disease a few days before showing any symptoms of rabies.

3. How can I tell if an animal has rabies?

In general, any animal behaving abnormally should be suspected of having rabies, and should be avoided.  Animals should be assessed for dumb or furious rabies.
In dumb or paralytic rabies :

• Some animals may show signs of depression and will try to hide in isolated places
• Wild animals may lose their fear of humans and appear unusually friendly; and/or
• Animals may show signs of paralysis (muscle weakness), particularly in the hind legs and throat; drooping head, sagging jaw, or abnormal facial expressions.
• Rabid bats often appear normal except for gradual weakening and a loss of flying ability.

In furious or irritable rabies :

• Animals may show signs of extreme excitement and aggression;
• Wild animals may be very aggressive;
• Night-roaming animals, such as skunks, may wander about in daylight, and /or
• Animals may show periods of furious rabies alternating with periods of depression.

Rabid animals may exhibit any combination of the above two forms or they may exhibit no clinical symptoms at all.

4. What can I do to help prevent the spread of rabies?

There are several things you can do to help prevent the spread of rabies.

• Do not feed or handle wild or stray animals, especially those that appear aggressive, sick or exhibit any abnormal behavior.
• Do not keep wild animals as pets.
• Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control for assistance.
• Vaccinate your pets against rabies according to instructions from your veterinarian, and keep their rabies immunizations up-to-date.
• Keep your pets indoors at night so they do not come in contact with wild animals.
• Keep your pets on a leash.
• Report stray animals to your local animal control office so that an animal control officer can investigate.
• If your cat or dog has been bitten, or attacked, by a wild animal or has bites or scratches of unknown origin, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Don’t leave table scraps or leftover pet food outside where it will attract wild animals.
• If your cat or dog has bitten a person, contact your local public health unit to report the incident.
• Reduce your chances of contact by animal-proofing your house, cottage and workplace.
• Do not relocate wildlife. It is illegal and can contribute to the spread of rabies.

1. Can my pet get rabies?

Yes, domestic animals (cats, dogs and pet ferrets) are at risk of acquiring the disease if they are not vaccinated against rabies and if they come into contact with a rabid animal.

2. What is the risk of rabies from hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits?

Healthy wild mice or pet gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats or rabbits which have never been outside a building can be considered to pose no risk for rabies transmission. 

3. What should I do if I suspect my pet (cat, dog or ferret) has been exposed to an

     animal suspected of having rabies?

Dogs and cats often get into fights with wild animals. If you believe your pet was in a fight with; bitten or scratched by an animal suspected of having rabies:

• Don’t handle your pet with your bare hands as there may be fresh saliva from a rabid animal on its coat.
• Contact your veterinarian, doctor or local Public Health office for advice.

4. Is it important to vaccinate my pet (cat, dog, and ferret)?

Vaccinations will not only protect your pets from acquiring rabies but will also help protect you and your family if your pet is bitten by a rabid wild animal.

5. How frequently should my pet be vaccinated?

Please see your veterinarian for the schedule of vaccinations for your pet. Rabies vaccines require a booster every one to three years, depending on the vaccine.

6. Is it important to vaccinate my farm animals?

Vaccinations will not only protect your animals from acquiring rabies but will also help protect you and your family if the animal is bitten by another rabid wild animal.  Please see your veterinarian for further information.

1. What can be done to treat rabies?

There is no cure for rabies once symptoms of the disease develop, making prevention and control extremely important. Human deaths from rabies can effectively be prevented by vaccination. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is provided to people at high risk of being infected, to protect them if they are exposed to the virus. Post-exposure rabies vaccinations can also prevent the disease if it is given as soon as possible after a person has been exposed to the virus.

 2. Who should I talk to if I have any questions about this vaccine?

          Talk to your doctor or call your local public health nurse for more information.

3. Who should receive Pre-Exposure vaccination?

Pre-Exposure rabies vaccination is usually recommended for the following groups, related to the high risk of rabies exposure:

• veterinarians
• lab workers who regularly handle rabies specimens
• hunters and trappers in high-risk areas
• animal control and wildlife workers
• spelunkers (cave explorers)
• travellers in areas of high rabies activity where there is limited access to post-exposure treatment

4. Who should receive Post-Exposure Treatment?

Depending on the risk of exposure to a rabid animal, post-exposure rabies treatment is given. Risk is determined by the type of exposure and the type of animal involved.

5. How soon after an exposure should I get rabies vaccination?

Rabies vaccination should be obtained as soon as possible after an exposure.

1. What can be done to treat rabies?

There is no cure for rabies once symptoms of the disease develop, making prevention and control extremely important. Human deaths from rabies can effectively be prevented by vaccination. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is provided to people at high risk of being infected, to protect them if they are exposed to the virus. Post-exposure rabies vaccinations can also prevent the disease if it is given as soon as possible after a person has been exposed to the virus.

 2. Who should I talk to if I have any questions about this vaccine?

Talk to your doctor or call your local public health nurse for more information.

3. Who should receive Pre-Exposure vaccination?

Pre-Exposure rabies vaccination is usually recommended for the following groups, related to the high risk of rabies exposure:

• veterinarians
• lab workers who regularly handle rabies specimens
• hunters and trappers in high-risk areas
• animal control and wildlife workers
• spelunkers (cave explorers)
• travellers in areas of high rabies activity where there is limited access to post-exposure treatment

4. Who should receive Post-Exposure Treatment?

Depending on the risk of exposure to a rabid animal, post-exposure rabies treatment is given. Risk is determined by the type of exposure and the type of animal involved.

5. How soon after an exposure should I get rabies vaccination?

Rabies vaccination should be obtained as soon as possible after an exposure.