There is no specific treatment for rabies infection. Though a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease is usually fatal. For that reason, anyone thought to have been exposed to rabies receives a series of shots to prevent the infection from taking hold.

             If you've been bitten by an animal that is known to have rabies, you'll receive a series of shots to prevent the rabies virus from infecting you. If the animal that bit you can't be found, it may be safest to assume that the animal has rabies. But this will depend on several factors, such as the type of animal and the situation in which the bite occurred.

Rabies shots include:

1.      A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. Part of this injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.

2.      A series of rabies vaccines to help your body learn to identify and fight the rabies virus. Rabies vaccines are given as injections in your arm. You receive five injections over 14 days.

What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed to rabies?

If you’ve been bitten by a potentially rabid mammal:

1. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention. A health care provider will care for the wound and assess the risk for rabies exposure.

2. Report the bite to your local health district.

Note: Any time a person is bitten or scratched by a domestic or wild mammal, the incident must be reported to the local health district, even if the mammal is a family pet and has up-to-date rabies shots.