Communicable disease factsheets

Rabies - General Fact Sheet

Rabies is an ancient viral disease which exists in a carrier state in certain wild animal populations. This fact sheet covers general information for the general public.

Version 1.0
This fact sheet was last updated on 19 February 2009

What is rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that affects wild animals, domestic animals (like pets and livestock) and humans. Affected animals are described as rabid. As rabies does not currently occur in Australia, it is very important for people travelling overseas to seek advice on vaccination options before travelling to an area where rabies is a problem. Australian bats and flying foxes, however, are known to carry a rabies-like virus which is lethal to humans (see below).

What are the symptoms of rabies?

Early symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, sore throat, and feeling tired. As the virus gets to the brain, the person may be nervous, confused, and upset. Other symptoms of rabies in humans include pain or tingling at the site of the bite, hallucinations (for example, seeing things that are not really there), hydrophobia (‘fear of water’ due to spasms in the throat) or paralysis (inability to move parts of the body).

In humans, signs and symptoms usually occur 30 to 90 days after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Once people develop symptoms they almost always die. This is why it is very important to seek medical assistance straight away if you have been bitten or scratched by an animal that might be capable of transmitting rabies or a rabies-like virus.

How do people become infected with rabies?

People get rabies from the saliva of an infected animal, usually from a bite. You cannot get rabies by patting an animal but you can get rabies from a scratch if the animal was licking its paw before it scratched you.

In developing countries dogs are the main host of the rabies virus which is in contrast to developed countries like the USA where wild animals are the main host. Some other animals which are known to carry the rabies virus are cats, foxes, bats, monkeys, jackals, skunks, racoons, wolves, bears, rodents, rabbits, hares and mongooses.

How can people protect themselves from rabies?

The best precaution against rabies is to avoid contact with wild or stray animals when travelling overseas.

How is rabies treated?

Rabies can be prevented by thorough cleaning of the bite wound with soap and water and antiseptic, followed by rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. It is important to go straight to your doctor or the hospital to seek further treatment if you have been bitten or scratched.
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Does rabies occur in Australia?

Rabies does not occur in Australia, although a form of rabies called Australian bat lyssavirus is present in Australian bats. People bitten by an infected bat are treated in the same way in Australia as if they were bitten by an animal with rabies, with rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine.

What is the occurrence of rabies worldwide?

Rabies is present in most countries in the world and is a significant public health problem for many countries in Asia and Africa.

More information

The World Health Organisation (www.who.int/rabies/en/)
US Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/rabies/)

Disclaimer

While every care has been taken in preparing this fact sheet, the Australian Government does not accept liability for any injury or loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance upon the content of the fact sheet.