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Disease information 

Rabies is caused by rabies virus.

How it spreads

• Bite of an infected animal
• Infected animal licks an open wound
• Rabies is not spread person to person

Rabies is not contagious. Someone with rabies cannot infect another person.

Symptoms

Early

• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Chills
• Vomiting
• Headache

Late

• Hallucinations
• Unusual behavior
• Difficulty swallowing (lockjaw)
• Increased saliva production
• Fear of water
• Coma or paralysis
• Death

Typical disease timeline

Early-stage symptoms last between 2 and 10 days. The more severe, later-stage symptoms last about 7 days.

Possible complications

If left untreated, death is certain.

Other things to know

• Symptoms begin to appear about 1 to 2 months after exposure.
• If you or a family member is bitten by an animal, thoroughly clean the wound then call your doctor or local health department to determine next steps.
• It is a good idea to contact a healthcare provider after an animal bite or scratch, regardless of concerns about rabies because those types of wounds often become infected.
• The rabies vaccine can be given after an animal bite and still be protective because of a delay in the development of symptoms.
• In the past, the rabies vaccine required as many as 30 shots. The current vaccine is given in four shots after exposure.

Vaccine information

The rabies vaccine is used to prevent rabies.

Vaccine type

• Killed viral vaccines

Rabies vaccine side effects

Common

• Sore arm (30 to 74 of 100 recipients)
• Headache (5 to 40 of 100 recipients)
• Nausea, vomiting (5 to 40 of 100 recipients)
• Fever and joint pain (6 of 100 recipients)

Rare

• None

Very rare

• Serious allergic reaction (1 of 10,000 recipients)

Other things to know 

Someone who has been vaccinated still needs medical attention after exposure to rabies, but the post-exposure care is less complex.

Reasons to get the rabies vaccine

• Once rabies symptoms begin, the disease is fatal.
• The rabies vaccine is safe.

When this vaccine may be necessary

• This vaccine is not routinely recommended in the U.S.
• Travelers and those at high risk of exposure because of their jobs may be recommended to get vaccinated in the absence of an exposure.
• Most often this vaccine is given after a possible exposure.
• Please consult with a travel medicine expert before traveling.