About rabies

Rabies disease is an infection caused by a virus that affects the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves). Once symptoms start, people usually die from rabies.

Learn more about rabies.

Who is most at risk?

People who have close contact with animals and lab workers who handle the rabies virus are at higher risk.

If you’re travelling, the risk of rabies depends on where you’re travelling, how long you’re travelling, what activities you’re doing, and the medical care in that area. Check with a travel immunization clinic for more information.

Children are at high risk because they’re more likely to approach animals and they might not tell someone if they get a bite or scratch. They’re also more likely to have a high-risk animal bite, such as a bite on the face or more serious wounds.

How it spreads

Rabies disease spreads from the saliva (spit) of an infected animal to humans through a bite, scratch, or a lick on an open wound or mucous membrane (such as your mouth, nose, or eyes).

The most common animals that carry rabies in Canada are skunks, bats, raccoons, and foxes.

Dogs are the most common animal that carry rabies in Asia and Africa, where most human deaths from rabies happen.

Symptoms

Early symptoms include headache, fever, pain, and feeling tired. Symptoms change quickly to feeling confused, nervous or anxious (agitation), and paralysis (being unable to move part of your body).

In the advanced stage of rabies, people may have severe spasms in the throat that lead to fear of water and swallowing liquids, fear of air and drafts, and then death.

Symptoms can start as early as a few days or as late as several years after contact with the virus. How soon symptoms start depends on where and how serious the exposure is.

Once symptoms start, people usually die from rabies.

Deaths from rabies are rare in North America. But worldwide, about 59,000 people die from rabies every year.

Vaccine

The rabies vaccine protects against the rabies virus.

• If an animal bit you or you think you have a risk of rabies disease, call Health Link at 811.
• If you work with animals, talk to your workplace health and safety department or a public health nurse to find out if you can get the vaccine for free.
• If you want the vaccine and need to pay for it, contact a travel health clinic or talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Preventing rabies

Rabies disease spreads from the saliva (spit) of an infected animal to humans through a bite, scratch, or lick on an open wound or mucous membrane (such as in your mouth, nose, or eyes).

Learn about your risks and how to protect yourself and other people when you spend time around animals:

• How to prevent contact with rabies
• Staying healthy around animals

Rabies immune globulin (RIG)

If you’ve had an animal bite or there’s a risk you’ve had contact with rabies disease, you might need rabies immune globulin. Immune globulins give quick, short-term protection.

For long-term protection, you need a vaccine. When you get rabies immune globulin, you also start a rabies vaccine series for long-lasting protection.

Learn more about rabies immune globulin.