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  1. Public Health
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  4. Animal Bites & Rabies
  5. Rabies Information

Rabies Information

brown bat

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system and causes disease in the brain.  The virus is passed on from infected mammals to humans, usually through the bite of a rabid animal. It is most always fatal once symptoms appear. Human rabies is rare in the United States.

All mammals, including humans can get rabies.  In Wisconsin, skunks and bats are by far the most likely to carry the rabies virus, but it sometimes occurs in dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons and livestock.

Signs and Symptoms of Rabies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Getting Medical Care for a Rabies Exposure

  • See a health care provider for medical treatment as soon as possible.
  • A doctor will decide the best wound care to help prevent rabies and for good healing.
  • You may need a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in 5 years.
  • Human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) plus rabies vaccine may be recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures.

If a vaccination is recommended, three more vaccines are needed after the first visit. Finish the vaccine series to be fully protected from rabies.

If you have insurance, call your clinic for a care plan.

If you do not have insurance:

  • Urgent care centers are less expensive than the Emergency Room.
  • Call first to be sure they have enough vaccine and can see you.
  • At Urgent Care, ask to speak to Patient Resources for help with the cost of the visit and follow-up care.  Vaccine companies have programs for uninsured and underinsured patients. They give vaccine for free to patients without health insurance who qualify. Ask the clinic if they participate in the assistance program for free vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin. Information and applications, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Protect Yourself from Rabies

Vaccination

People do not need to be vaccinated for rabies unless they are exposed to the virus. The best protection for people against rabies is to get their pets vaccinated.

Prevention

  • Avoid wild animals.
  • Avoid any animal with symptoms of rabies.
  • Do not approach or touch unfamiliar animals.
  • Block any openings into your house that an animal may get in through.
  • Keep tamper-proof lids on outside garbage cans so animals are not attracted to your property.

Protect Your Pets from Rabies

Vaccination

Getting your dogs and cats vaccinated is their best protection against the rabies virus. Dogs and cats should be vaccinated when they are five months old and revaccinated a year later. Vaccination shots do not last the lifetime of your pet. Revaccination is required every 1 to 3 years. In Wisconsin, all dogs are required to be vaccinated and in Madison, cats must also be vaccinated.

Prevention

Keep wild and unfamiliar animals away from your pets.

Animals

  • Animal Bites & Rabies
    • Rabies Information
  • Backyard Chickens
  • Pet Licensing and Ownership
  • Stray Animals
  • Wild Animals

Contact Animal Services

  • Animal Services Officer Dispatch
    (608) 255-2345 (urgent)
  • Animal Services Office
    (608) 267-1989 (non-urgent)
  • Dane County Humane Society
    (608) 838-0413, ext. 0
  • DCHS Wildlife Center
    (608) 838-0413 Ext. 151
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Public Health Madison & Dane County

Office Location & Hours

  • Main Phone: (608) 266-4821
  • Environmental Health Phone:
    (608) 242-6515
  • Fax: (608) 266-4858
  • WI Relay Service and Interpretation Services Available
  • Email Public Health
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    City of Madison, Wisconsin
  • Dane County Logo
    County of Dane, Wisconsin

Healthy People. Healthy Places.

Public Health Services are available to all residents and visitors of Madison and Dane County. Citizenship is not a requirement. We provide services regardless of a person's race, color, gender/gender expression, ability, religion, sexual orientation or place of birth/place of residence.

Our Mission


Working with the community to enhance, protect, and promote the health of the environment and the well being of all people.


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