|
 |
What
is rabies? |
Rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a
virus. Each year, it kills more than 50,000 people and millions of animals around the
world. |
| Is
rabies a problem everywhere? |
Rabies is a big problem in Asia, Africa, and
Central and South America. In the United States, rabies has been reported in every state
except Hawaii. |
Who gets rabies? |
Any mammal
can get rabies. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs, and cats can get rabies. Cattle and
humans can also get rabies. Only mammals can get
rabies. Animals that are not mammals -- such as birds, snakes, and fish -- do not
get rabies. |
| How
does an animal get rabies? |
Rabies is caused by a virus. An animal gets rabies from saliva, usually from a bite of an animal that has the disease.
You cannot get rabies from blood. |
| How
do you know if an animal has rabies? |
Animals with rabies may act differently from
healthy animals. Wild animals may move slowly or may act as if they are tame. A pet that
is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Some signs of rabies in animals
are:
- changes in an animal’s behavior
- general sickness
- problems swallowing
- increased drooling
- aggression
|
| Can
rabies be prevented? |
Yes! Rabies can be prevented by rabies
vaccine and thorough cleaning of the wound. If you are bitten by an animal that could have
rabies, tell your parents right away so they can clean the bite wound with soap and water
and take you to see a doctor. |
| How
can I prevent rabies? |
- Vaccinate your dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies.
- Keep your pets under supervision.
- Do not handle wild animals. If you see a wild animal or
a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely, call an animal control officer.
- If you do get bitten by an animal, wash the wound with soap
and water for at least 5 minutes. Make sure you tell an adult and call your doctor to see
if you need shots.
- Get your pets spayed or neutered. Pets that are
fixed are less likely to leave home, become strays, and make more stray animals.
|
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CDC's Rabies Web Page
That's Just for Kids!
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch (VRZB)
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (DVRD)
National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mailing address:
Rabies Section MS G-33
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404)639-1050
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
This page
last reviewed February 6, 2003
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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