Rabies
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a deadly but preventable virus that affects mammals, including people. It spreads through the saliva of an infected animal when it gets into an open wound, a cut, or the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus does not enter through unbroken skin and can be killed easily with soap and water, disinfectants, or UV light.
Rabies is not spread through blood, urine, or feces. You can’t get rabies just by touching a rabid animal, being near one, or touching objects it touched. You also can’t get rabies from a “dry scratch” that didn’t have saliva on it.
If you think you might have been exposed to rabies, contact your local health department right away to find out if you need treatment.
Rabies can take weeks or months to cause symptoms. Once symptoms start, rabies is nearly always fatal and occurs within 15 days. Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease with appropriate treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
If you’ve been exposed to an animal that might have rabies, it’s critical to get medical care right away. Timely treatment with rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is essential to prevent infection.
Cost and Access
Rabies PEP can be expensive, especially for people without insurance or with high deductibles. The first day of treatment alone can cost thousands of dollars. Because the treatment is both costly and time-intensive, unnecessary use can create a financial strain for patients and local healthcare systems. For this reason, healthcare providers familiar with rabies exposure guidelines should carefully evaluate each case to determine if PEP is needed.
What Rabies PEP Includes
Rabies PEP usually includes wound care, human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a four-dose series of rabies vaccinations. People who have been previously vaccinated or who are immunocompromised may need a different schedule.
Recommended PEP Schedule (for Healthy, Unvaccinated Individuals)
Recommended PEP schedule for healthy people who have not been previously vaccinated:
- Day 0 (first day): Rabies immune globulin (RIG) and one rabies vaccine dose
- Day 3: Rabies vaccine
- Day 7: Rabies vaccine
- Day 14: Rabies vaccine
The full rabies PEP series takes 14 days to complete. People who are immunocompromised will need a fifth dose on day 28. Because treatment effectiveness depends on timing, it’s important to follow the vaccination schedule as closely as possible.
Common Animal Bite Exposures
In Champaign County, the most common animal bite exposures come from bats, cats, and dogs. If you have been bitten by any animal, contact CUPHD or Champaign County Animal Control as soon as possible.
If you’ve had any physical contact with a bat, the bat should be safely captured and tested for rabies, if possible. Dogs and cats can often be monitored professionally for signs of rabies, which may help avoid unnecessary rabies PEP treatment.
Animal Rabies Risk Categories
| Risk Level | Examples |
|---|---|
| High Risk | Bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes |
| Medium Risk | Dogs, cats, ferrets, livestock |
| Low Risk | Rabbits, rodents, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, other small pets |
Please note that rabies is a virus that affects mammals; birds do not transmit rabies to humans. Cats and dogs can be monitored for 10 days instead of being tested.
High pet vaccination rates have significantly reduced the risk of rabies in cats and dogs in the United States. The last known rabies-positive cat in Champaign County was recorded in 1966, and the last known rabies-positive dog was recorded before 1964.
Rabies Exposure Assessments
A rabies risk assessment should always be conducted by a health official familiar with rabies. Healthcare providers who need assistance with a risk assessment should contact their local or state health department for guidance.
Where to Get PEP
For patients in Champaign County, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be started at either the Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department or the OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center Emergency Department. These two facilities carry rabies immune globulin (RIG), which is an essential part of the PEP series.
Urgent care centers, convenient care clinics, and primary care offices do not carry RIG. However, the remaining three rabies vaccine doses can be administered at any facility that carries a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine.
CUPHD does not stock or administer rabies vaccinations.