Rabies - Information for Public, Providers and Veterinarians
Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through an animal bite.
There are two rabies strains that commonly circulate in Iowa (bat and skunk), and many different species can be infected with these strains. Animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States include bats, skunks, coyotes, foxes and raccoons.
Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. For that reason, immune globulin and rabies vaccine is recommended under certain circumstances to stop the rabies virus from infecting the body.
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that can infect all mammals including humans. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
What animals get rabies?
All mammals can get rabies. Animals in Iowa are infected with rabies every year; some animals are more likely to be infected than others. For example, wild animals (especially skunks and bats) most often get rabies. All domestic animals (such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle) can be infected. Smaller mammals such as squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and rabbits rarely get rabies.
How do you get rabies?
Anyone can get rabies after exposure to a rabid animal. Rabies is spread when the virus from the animal's saliva gets through a person's skin via bites or contact to wounds or contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can also be transmitted through contact with the infected animal’s brain or spinal cord tissue.
In addition, people found in rooms with bats that are unable to state, “I know I was not bitten,” may have been exposed to rabies. This would include persons who wake up to find a bat in the room or children alone with a bat in a room. If you or your pet comes across a bat, use the guidance below to stay safe.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bats and Rabies: English, Spanish
What should you do if you are bitten by an animal?
Immediately wash the bite or wound thoroughly with soap and water. Contact your health care provider to discuss whether you need rabies shots.
How can rabies be prevented?
Vaccination of pets against rabies is the best way to reduce human exposure.
Avoid contact with all wild animals.
Do not keep wild animals as pets.
Control of stray animals can decrease both animal and human exposure to rabies.
Consultation
Iowa HHS provides consultation to help health care providers, veterinarians, and the public to determine whether a potential exposure occurred. Rabies exposure consultation can be obtained from the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology:
During business hours call: (800) 362-2736
After hours call: (515) 323-4360 (the Iowa State Patrol will contact the person on call)
Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva or neural tissue of infected animals. All mammals can get rabies. Animals in Iowa are infected with rabies every year; some animals are more likely to be infected than others. For example, wild animals (especially skunks and bats) most often get rabies. All domestic animals (such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle) can be infected. Rodents (such as squirrels, hamsters, and mice) and rabbits very rarely get rabies. Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. For that reason, immune globulin and rabies vaccine is recommended under certain circumstances to stop the rabies virus from infecting the body.
What constitutes an exposure?
There was a bite from an animal to a human.
There was saliva/neural tissue contact from an animal to a human’s open cut or mucous membrane.
A bat is found in the same room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, an intoxicated person, or anyone unable to confirm that they were NOT bitten.
Other contact, such as contact with blood, urine, skunk spray, or feces, does not constitute an exposure and is not an indication for prophylaxis.
State and local laws require that dogs, cats and ferrets that have bitten or exposed a human to their saliva be quarantined for 10 days regardless of their rabies vaccination status. If at any time during the quarantine period, a dog, cat, or ferret shows signs of rabies, the animal should be immediately euthanized and tested. Please see the following list to determine who enforces in your jurisdiction.
If a person that has not been vaccinated is exposed to a rabid animal, what is required for post exposure prophylaxis?
Human Rabies Immune-Globulin (HRIG) on day 0, plus a series of Human Rabies Vaccines (HRV) on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (immune compromised patients should receive a 5th dose on day 28 and subsequent titer check).
If a person previously vaccinated with Human Rabies Vaccine is exposed to a rabid animal, what is required for post exposure prophylaxis?
Persons with previous rabies vaccination [completed series of the three vaccine pre exposure prophylaxis or the series of four/five vaccines and Human Rabies Immune Globulin post exposure prophylaxis (using Human Diploid Cell Vaccine, Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed, or Purified Chick Embryo Vaccines)], should receive two doses of rabies vaccine on days 0 and 3. The person does not need Human Rabies Immune Globulin.
Other recommended measures include:
Immediately and thoroughly wash all bite wounds and scratches with soap and water.
Tetanus prophylaxis should be considered.
Risk of bacterial infections should be assessed and addressed.
State and local laws require that dogs, cats and ferrets that have bitten or exposed a human to their saliva be quarantined for 10 days regardless of their rabies vaccination status. If at any time during the quarantine period, a dog, cat, or ferret shows signs of rabies, the animal should be immediately euthanized and tested. Please see the following list to determine who enforces in your jurisdiction.
Rabies is spread via the virus-laden saliva of an infected animal through a bite or saliva contact with mucous membranes or a fresh break in the skin. Breaks in the skin or mucous membrane exposure to nervous tissue (brain, spinal cord) of an infected animal also pose a transmission threat. Bites of some animals, such as bats, can inflict injury so minor that it goes undetected. Airborne spread (for example, in a cave with many bats, or in a laboratory through rabies virus or specimens) has occurred. Rabies is not transmitted through contact with blood, urine, skunk spray, or feces of an infected animal.
Rabies testing requires examination of the animal’s brain, so the animal should be euthanized without damage to the head. Samples should be refrigerated prior to submission to the laboratory, and freezing should be avoided.
If the specimen will not be submitted for testing immediately, it should be refrigerated until transported or shipped. Private carrier (patient, relative, or designee) drives the sample and sample and completed form to the laboratory. Overnight commercial carrier (FedEx preferred) transports properly packaged sample (dead animals only) and completed form. Overnight commercial carrier is the best option if private carrier is not possible.
Persons exposed should contact their health care provider to discuss whether PEP is appropriate.
How often should veterinarians get rabies booster shots?
Rabies preexposure prophylaxis is a 2-dose (days 0 and 7) intramuscular rabies vaccination series. A one-time check of rabies antibody titer during years 1-3 after the 2-dose primary series is appropriate assurance of long-term immunogenicity for persons in risk category 3. Persons that fall into risk category 3 have nearly always recognized exposures to rabies. These persons include:
veterinarians, technicians, animal control officers, and their students and trainees;
