Rabies

Page last updated 03/27/2025.

A picture of a fox, bat, skunk, and racoon.

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. Rabies affects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive prompt and appropriate medical care after exposure to rabies, and before symptoms start, the virus will progress to the brain. This almost always results in death.

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Transmission (Spread)

In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes. In California, rabies is mostly found in bats and skunks. Rabies in pet dogs and cats is possible, but less common because many pets are vaccinated against rabies.

People and animals can get rabies if an animal with rabies:

  • Bites them, or
  • If saliva from an animal with rabies gets into a break in a person’s or animal’s skin or into their eyes, nose, or mouth.

People and animals can’t get rabies just by touching or being near an animal with rabies. But rabies exposures in pets and livestock may not always be noticed by their owners and caretakers. It is important to work with a veterinarian to prevent rabies in animals. 

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Prevention

The best way to prevent rabies is to keep a safe distance from wildlife.

  • Do not touch or feed wildlife.                                         
Woman petting a dog's head at vet

Pet owners should keep pets up-to-date on rabies vaccines.

  • In California, all dogs are required to get vaccinated against rabies. Although not required, cats should also be vaccinated.
  • Keep pets away from wild animals and unfamiliar pets.
  • Call animal control to report stray animals in your neighborhood.

Wash bites or scratches immediately with soap and water and seek medical care as soon as possible after being bitten or scratched by a wild animal.

If traveling to countries that commonly have rabies in dogs, you can lower your risk by talking to your doctor about getting the rabies vaccine series before your trip. Always keep a safe distance from wildlife and stray animals.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of Rabies in People

Rabies will almost always lead to death if not treated before symptoms start. The first symptoms of rabies may be like the flu, including:

  • Weakness,
  • Fever, and
  • Headache.

There may also be tingling, itching, or pain at the bite site. Severe disease usually appears within two weeks of the first symptoms when the rabies virus reaches the brain. Some symptoms that occur before death include delirium (severe confusion), hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of drinking water due to pain when swallowing), and hypersalivation.

Signs of Rabies in Animals

Pets and livestock can get rabies when they come in contact with an infected animal. Animals can have rabies and spread rabies to other animals or people before showing any signs of illness.

An animal with rabies will have strange or unnatural behavior because the rabies virus attacks the brain. This can include:

  • A wild animal that seems unusually tame or is not afraid to approach people.
  • An animal out during the day that is usually active only at night.
  • A pet that has trouble walking, eating, or drinking, or has a change in personal or how it acts.
  • A normally calm animal that acts in an agitated or aggressive manner.
  • A bat that cannot fly or has been caught by a dog or cat.

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Evaluation

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that may be infected with rabies, or if you have any direct contact with a bat:

  • Wash the wound and/or area right away with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out any virus, then
  • Talk to a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

In San Diego, bats test positive for rabies more frequently than any other animal. Any direct, skin-to-bat contact should be reported to and discussed with your doctor, in consultation with the local health department, as needed (Epidemiology Unit).

  • Bites and scratches from bats are extremely small and may not be noticeable.
  • Sleeping in the same room as a bat also presents a potential risk of exposure.
  • Bites or scratches from wild mammals (e.g., skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes) present a higher risk for rabies exposure. A doctor should look at these bites and scratches right away.

Medical care following a rabies exposure is called rabies post-exposure prophylaxis or rabies PEP. 

  • Talk with your doctor, or public health professional, about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
    • Share the type of animal you came across and if there were any signs that the animal was not acting normally.
    • All animal bites must be reported to local animal control.
  • Rabies PEP includes immediate wound care, starting a rabies vaccination series, and one dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) for people who have never been vaccinated against rabies. If rabies PEP is needed, it should begin as soon as possible.

For questions and/or guidance about exposure to rabies or the need for rabies PEP, contact the Epidemiology Unit at 619-692-8499.

Reporting and Monitoring Animal Bites

  • Animals can be infected with rabies for a few days before showing any symptoms. Because of this, all animal bites are reportable to your local animal control provider. The animal will be observed for symptoms following the bite.
  • Animal services and control agencies will coordinate the post-bite monitoring period. Animals unable to complete the monitoring period due to death or euthanasia are required to be tested for rabies.
  • If needed, animal rabies testing is performed at the San Diego County Public Health Laboratory.

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Information for Healthcare Professionals

  • Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Algorithm: This algorithm helps healthcare providers and animal health professionals determine a person’s risk of getting rabies after a potential exposure.
    • This algorithm does not address all possible scenarios.
    • The decision to administer PEP is a joint decision between the patient and their healthcare provider.

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Information for Veterinarians

  • California Animal Rabies Vaccine Requirements:
    • Dogs are required to be rabies vaccinated by 4 months of age.
  • How to report an animal bite in San Diego County:
  • What to do after an animal is exposed to wildlife:
    • A veterinarian needs to provide a post-exposure rabies vaccine to a domestic animal as soon as possible if they come in direct or suspected contact with wildlife. This includes:
      • Holding a bat it in its mouth or if the animal is found with a bat and the exposure is unknown.
      • Having any wounds of unknown origin.
  • When to submit an animal for rabies testing:
    • If the domestic animal cannot complete its post-bite quarantine period due to death or euthanasia, they must be submitted for rabies testing.
    • Wild animals that have exposed a domestic animal or person.
    • For questions regarding when to test an animal for rabies, contact the County of San Diego, Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499.
Conservation

Although bats can carry rabies, they are an important part of nature in San Diego County.

  • There are over 20 species of bats that live in the county.
  • They feed on insects such as mosquitos and nectar from plants while pollinating them in the process.
  • You may see bats at dusk when they are most active. Keep your distance from bats to prevent a rabies exposure and to protect bats from harm.

If you see strange bat behavior, get in touch with an animal control group. They will collect the bat and decide if the bat can be rehabilitated or if it needs to be tested for rabies.

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Resources

Local Animal Control Services

Additional Local Resources

State

Federal

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Call the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499, or send an e-mail, for more information.