Rabies — Frequently Asked Questions

All mammals, including humans, can get rabies, but it most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, skunk, bats, foxes, and coyotes.

Animal species most often diagnosed with rabies in the United States are wild and include raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes. In the eastern US, raccoons are the principal reservoir of rabies and primarily transmit the virus to other raccoons. On occasion, when raccoon rabies is widespread in an area, raccoons may infect other animals such as cats, dogs or other mammals. In New York City, as of 2014, 636 animals have tested positive for rabies since 1992 when the virus was first introduced. The vast majority of those were raccoons, while only 12 cats, 6 opossums and 1 groundhog were reported. No dogs have tested positive for rabies in NYC in over 55 years.

Rabbits and small rodents (such as chipmunks, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and squirrels) are rarely found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit rabies to people. Bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal appeared sick or was behaving in an unusual manner. The one exception has been woodchucks or groundhogs, which have occasionally been reported to have rabies. In all cases involving rodents, the health department should be consulted before a decision is made to initiate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).

People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but quite rare, for people to get rabies from a scratch or from direct contact with a rabid animals saliva or nerve tissue if it gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. While raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes are considered high-risk sources of the virus, bats are the most common source of infection for people across the United States.

From 1990 to 2014 there have been 56 human rabies cases acquired within the US. Two of those occurred in New York State, and none occurred in New York City. Of the 56 cases, 48 were due to bats. A history of having had contact with a bat could only be documented in approximately half of the cases, suggesting that even limited contact with bats may be associated with transmission of the rabies virus. Bat bites may not be obvious as their teeth are small and very sharp. Every known or suspect encounter with a bat is considered a possible rabies exposure and is treated as such. A suspect encounter would include any scenario in which a bat is found in an enclosed setting with a person who may not be fully aware of its presence (i.e. an infant, a person that is sleeping or intoxicated). If the bat can be captured safely and tested, results will determine whether the person exposed needs PEP. If the bat is not available for testing, the bat is assumed to be rabid, and the person exposed should receive PEP.

Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to a bat or a rabid animal should contact their physician or their local health department for advice. For more information on bats, rabies and advice on how to capture a bat, see the NYS DOH Rabies website.

It is extremely rare for a person to get rabies from an exposure other than an animal bite. A non-bite exposure could include a scratch, abrasion, open wounds, or mucous membranes of the nose or eye that gets contaminated with saliva or other potentially infectious material (such as brain or other nerve tissue) from a rabid animal. Occasionally non-bite exposures are treated with PEP.

Rabies has been transmitted through organ transplantation, but this is extremely rare. There have been eight well-documented cases of rabies transmission through corneal transplantation. In 2004, four persons became infected and died from rabies after receiving solid organ donations from one infected donor. Inhalation of aerosolized rabies virus is also a potential non-bite route of exposure, but other than laboratory workers who work with the rabies virus, most people are unlikely to encounter an aerosol of rabies virus.

Other contact, such as petting a rabid animal or having contact with the blood, urine or feces (e.g., guano or skunk spray) of a rabid animal, does not constitute an exposure and is not an indication for PEP.

Early symptoms, which may last for several days, include irritability, headache, fever, malaise, and sometimes discomfort or tingling at the site of the bite or exposure. Within days the patient may develop slight or partial paralysis, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, hydrophobia (fear of water), anxiety, confusion, excitation, convulsions, delirium and death.

Animals with rabies most often exhibit behavior changes such as a friendly dog that becomes withdrawn or belligerent, an aloof animal that becomes suddenly affectionate, or an animal that demonstrates unusual aggression. They may eat or chew things such as wood, soil, stones, plants, or other foreign objects. One of the most recognizable signs is excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth. Other signs may include a change in voice so that it is hoarse, with a throaty bark or snarl, dilated pupils, vacant stare, muscle tremors (especially in cats), varying degrees of paralysis frequently beginning at the head and neck causing jaws to hang open, or impaired locomotion.

Typically, symptoms of rabies may start to appear within 1 to 3 months of exposure, although time periods of up to several years have been reported.

An animal can only transmit rabies through a bite when the virus has infected the animal's brain. Once the brain is infected, the animal begins shedding the virus in its saliva. It is at this time or soon after that the animal begins to shows signs of illness. For dogs, cats, ferrets and some other animals the period during which they can shed the virus has been documented. In these animals, rabies virus is present in saliva only a few days prior to the onset of their illness and up until their death. This allows us to observe a biting dog, cat or ferret for 10 days to determine whether it could have been shedding rabies at the time of the bite. If the animal does NOT develop rabies illness during the 10-day observation period, the animal was not shedding rabies virus and the exposed person does not need PEP. This protocol may not apply to all animal species. Animal bites from animals other than ferrets, cats or dogs should be discussed with the Health Department.

Animal rabies testing is done at the New York City Public Health Laboratory. Prior arrangements must be made through the Health Department before samples will be accepted.

A person is considered to have had a possible rabies exposure if:

1. they were bitten by a skunk, fox, coyote, raccoon or bat that either has tested positive for rabies or the animal is not available for rabies testing
2. they were bitten by a dog, cat or ferret that is unavailable for testing or a 10 day observation period
3. they had contact with a bat, or a bat is found in an enclosed setting with a person that may not be fully aware of it's presence (i.e., an infant, a person that is sleeping or intoxicated).

It is sometimes difficult to determine whether a possible rabies exposure occurred, so any injury from an animal, or exposure to a bat within the household, should be discussed with a medical provider.

If a physician determines that rabies exposure may have occurred, they will recommend PEP. Preventive treatment requires prompt washing of the bite site with soap and copious amounts of water, followed by the injection of PEP which includes rabies immune globulin (dosage depending on weight) and four doses of rabies vaccine injected into the arm muscle on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 after exposure. Immunosuppressed persons should receive a 5th dose of vaccine on day 28 followed by a blood test 14 to 28 days after the last vaccine to ensure an acceptable rabies antibody response. Rabies preventive vaccine is no longer given in the abdomen.

Avoiding contact with bats and staying away from all wild and stray animals, especially those acting abnormally may minimize exposure to rabies. It is also important to have domestic animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) vaccinated against rabies. Any animal-related injury, and any household exposure or other direct contact with a bat, should be discussed with a physician to determine if rabies preventive treatment is necessary.

Exposure to a rabid animal does not have to result in rabies. If preventive treatment is obtained promptly following a rabies exposure, most cases of rabies will be prevented. Untreated cases of rabies will likely result in death.

Try to get the owner’s contact information including; name, address and phone number. This will help the Health Department follow up with the pet owner regarding the 10 day at home observation. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water and consider seeking care from your health care provider. Report the bite to the Health Department by calling 311. If the animal is available for observation, you do not need to start rabies shots. No rabid dogs have been reported in NYC since 1954, although several cats, primarily strays, have tested positive.

After a healthy dog or cat has bitten someone, the animal can be watched for a period of 10 days at home by the owner. If after 10 days the animal is still alive and healthy, the bite victim does not need to get rabies shots. The health department will attempt to communicate with the pet owner during this time. If during this time the animal develops signs of rabies, testing will be performed. Rabies testing requires that the animal be humanely euthanized.

If the animal is a healthy stray, but is regularly observed and easy to identify, consider observing the animal for 10 days where it lives. Otherwise, call 311 to see if arrangements can be made to capture the animal so it can be observed at a shelter.

Raccoons, skunks and bats are known to transmit rabies. If you are bitten by one of these animals, immediately wash the wound with soap and water and see your health care provider. Call 311 to see if arrangements can be made to capture the animal and test it for rabies. If the animal will be tested, you do not need to start the rabies vaccine, in most instances, unless the animal tests positive for rabies.

Possibly. Rabies is most commonly spread to pets in NY from rabid raccoons. Rabies vaccination along with preventing contact with wild animals is the best way to help protect your pet from infection.

Any unvaccinated dog or cat that was bitten, or could have been bitten, by a rabid animal must enter a 6 month quarantine in a veterinary hospital - OR - be euthanized. If a pet is up-to-date with its rabies vaccine, a booster vaccine should be given immediately by your veterinarian, and the pet must be confined and observed for 45 days in the owner’s home.