Rabies

At a glance

Vaccine preventable – check who’s eligible
Nationally notifiable disease

About rabies

Rabies is a rare but fatal disease that affects the central nervous system.

It is caused by a type of virus called a lyssavirus.

Rabies virus is found in nearly every country, but not Australia. It is closely related to Australian bat lyssavirus and causes a very similar disease.

Rabies spreads to people through bites or scratches from infected animals.

Why it matters to public health

Rabies is a serious public health problem in many countries.

It almost always causes death if not appropriately managed after exposure to the virus.

It can be controlled by vaccination of people and dogs, but about 59,000 people around the world still die from rabies each year.

Because of these major impacts, we:

plan for how to manage people in Australia who might have been exposed to rabies overseas
work with colleagues in the animal sector to share information, monitor and report on rabies in Australia, using a coordinated One Health approach.

Symptoms

If you’re looking for advice about your own health or treatment options, see healthdirect or speak with a qualified healthcare professional. Our role is to provide public health advice – information and guidance that helps prevent disease, protect communities and improve wellbeing at a population level.

Rabies usually starts with flu-like symptoms that may last for a few days to weeks. Common symptoms include:

fatigue
fever
headaches
anxiety
unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking or burning sensations at the wound site.

The illness then progresses to include:

paralysis
delirium (sudden confusion and changes in behaviour)
difficulty swallowing
seizures.

Death usually occurs within 2 weeks of symptoms starting.

Read more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of rabies.

If you have been in contact with an animal overseas (especially bats, dogs, cats and monkeys) where there is any risk of rabies, urgently see a healthcare professional.

Check your symptoms

Onset of symptoms

Symptoms usually start between 2 and 3 months after getting infected. But this can range from 1 week to 1 year, or even longer.

How it spreads

Rabies virus spreads through the saliva of infected mammals, such as:

dogs
bats
monkeys
foxes
raccoons
skunks
jackals.

The virus usually spreads to people through bites or scratches. But people can also be infected if saliva comes in contact with their eyes, mouth, nose or an open wound.

In areas where rabies is not well controlled, at least 9 in 10 people with rabies are infected by dogs.

Infectious period

Rabies does not usually spread between people.

Prevention

The best protection is to avoid contact with animals while travelling overseas, especially if they are sick or injured.

If you get scratched or bitten by an animal while travelling overseas, act quickly to prevent infection – seek immediate medical attention, even if you are vaccinated.

Vaccination

Rabies is vaccine preventable – the same vaccines are effective against rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus.

Rabies vaccination is recommended for:

some people who are travelling to areas where animals have rabies – this is based on a risk assessment by a healthcare professional considering the risk of contact with infected animals
people who might have contact with bats
laboratory workers who work with live lyssaviruses.

Rabies vaccination (along with rabies immunoglobulin) is also given to people who might have been exposed to rabies.

Other prevention steps

If travelling overseas to countries where animals have rabies, you can reduce your risk by:

talking to a healthcare professional before you travel
staying away from wild and domestic animals
not allowing children to feed, pat or play with animals
not carrying food or feeding or patting monkeys
avoiding contact with all bats, anywhere in the world
knowing what to do if you get bitten or scratched by an animal.

If bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling overseas:

immediately wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes
apply an antiseptic with antiviral properties – such as one that contains iodine
do not cover the wound
if your eyes, nose or mouth have been exposed, immediately flush with water
see a healthcare professional urgently – even if you've had the rabies vaccine.

Your doctor may recommend:

rabies vaccination
rabies immunoglobulin – for people who have not been vaccinated before exposure.

For travel advice, see Smartraveller.

Priority groups and settings

People at greater risk of severe disease

Rabies is always a serious disease.

People who are unvaccinated are at greater risk of severe illness and death.

People at greater risk of exposure

People are at greater risk of exposure to rabies if they travel to countries where rabies is present, especially if they have contact with animals.

Laboratory staff who work with live lyssaviruses are also at greater risk of exposure.

If you are at greater risk, talk to your healthcare professional about rabies vaccination.

Diagnosis and treatment

Rabies can be diagnosed with a test, which may require:

saliva
a skin biopsy (a small sample of skin) from the back of the neck
a sample of spinal fluid.

You can use healthdirect’s directory to find a health service near you.

Find a health service

Once symptoms appear, there is no specific treatment for rabies. People with symptoms need to be cared for in hospital.

Read more about how to manage or treat rabies.

Surveillance and reporting

Rabies is a nationally notifiable disease – these are diseases that present a risk to public health.

Health authorities in each state and territory report new laboratory confirmed cases to us daily through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

We take a One Health approach to rabies surveillance activities.

Support

For information about rabies in your state or territory, see:

If you need mental health support, see a list of organisations, websites and services that offer support, counselling and information.