{"id":2057,"date":"2023-06-01T16:19:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T20:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/rappahannock-rapidan\/?page_id=2057"},"modified":"2023-08-22T08:52:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T12:52:25","slug":"animal-bites-and-rabies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/rappahannock-rapidan\/animal-bites-and-rabies\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Bites and Rabies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-2057\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-2057-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-2057-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-mobile-last\" ><div id=\"panel-2057-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>Jump to: <a href=\"#AnimalBites\">Animal Bites<\/a> | <a href=\"#Rabies\">Rabies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-2057-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-2057-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div id=\"AnimalBites\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-2057-1\" ><div id=\"pgc-2057-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-2057-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-2057-1-0-0\" ><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Animal Bites<\/h3>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>All animal bites have the potential to spread diseases, like rabies. Even if you own the animal or you know the owner, it&#8217;s important to report all animal bites to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-2057-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-9cddf58f6ed1-2057\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"ways-to-prevent-animal-bites\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-ways-to-prevent-animal-bites\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-ways-to-prevent-animal-bites\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWays to Prevent Animal Bites:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-ways-to-prevent-animal-bites\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-ways-to-prevent-animal-bites\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Never pet, handle, approach, or feed wild animals.<\/li>\n<li>Never approach an unfamiliar dog without asking the owner.<\/li>\n<li>PAY ATTENTION to animals\u2019 body language.<\/li>\n<li>Do not approach a dog while they may feel threatened, protective, or territorial.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"if-you-or-your-child-has-been-bitten\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-if-you-or-your-child-has-been-bitten\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-if-you-or-your-child-has-been-bitten\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf You or Your Child Has Been Bitten:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-if-you-or-your-child-has-been-bitten\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-if-you-or-your-child-has-been-bitten\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Immediately wash the wound with soap and water and seek proper medical attention.<\/li>\n<li>Contact your local animal control, local health department, or police to report the incident.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-to-be-a-responsible-pet-owner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-to-be-a-responsible-pet-owner\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-to-be-a-responsible-pet-owner\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to be a Responsible Pet Owner:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-to-be-a-responsible-pet-owner\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-to-be-a-responsible-pet-owner\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><strong>Spay or neuter<\/strong> your pet because unneutered pets are at an increased risk of roaming.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adhere to rabies vaccination guidelines<\/strong>\u00a0to protect yourself and your pet from rabies.<\/li>\n<li>Take your pet to\u00a0<strong>routine check-ups at their veterinarian\u00a0<\/strong>to keep them healthy and well.<\/li>\n<li>Confine your pet to a defined area such as a\u00a0<strong>fenced yard<\/strong>\u00a0when it is outside.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid situations\u00a0<\/strong>that may cause your pet to feel threatened or teased.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Properly train your pet\u00a0<\/strong>to obey commands such as \u201csit\u201d, \u201cstay\u201d, and \u201ccome.\u201d\u00a0<strong>Safely socialize\u00a0<\/strong>your pet to other animals and people of different ages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-2057-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div class=\"panel-cell-style panel-cell-style-for-2057-1-1\" ><div id=\"panel-2057-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_block panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><\/div><div id=\"panel-2057-1-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_block\" data-index=\"4\" ><\/div><div id=\"panel-2057-1-1-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-2057\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/More-kids-get-dog-bites-in-spring-summer.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/More-kids-get-dog-bites-in-spring-summer.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/More-kids-get-dog-bites-in-spring-summer-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/More-kids-get-dog-bites-in-spring-summer-1024x856.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/More-kids-get-dog-bites-in-spring-summer-768x642.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" alt=\"A dog ready to attack with teeth bared.\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-2057-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div id=\"Rabies\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-2057-2\" ><div id=\"pgc-2057-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-2057-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-2057-2-0-0\" ><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Rabies<\/h3>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>Rabies is a deadly disease that only affects mammals and is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Once a person or animal starts showing clinical signs of rabies, survival is rare.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2121 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/rabies-vectors-large.jpg\" alt=\"Examples of animals that can contract and spread rabies: dogs, foxes, bats, skunks, raccoons, and cats. \" width=\"1185\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/rabies-vectors-large.jpg 1185w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/rabies-vectors-large-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/rabies-vectors-large-1024x386.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2023\/05\/rabies-vectors-large-768x290.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1185px) 100vw, 1185px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-2057-2-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-9cddf58f6ed1-2057\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"who-gets-rabies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-who-gets-rabies\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-who-gets-rabies\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho Gets Rabies?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-who-gets-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-who-gets-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>While any mammal can get rabies, the rabies virus is most commonly found in wild animals like raccoons, skunks and foxes. Bats may also carry the rabies virus. Only mammals get rabies; birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians do not.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"where-is-rabies-found\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-where-is-rabies-found\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-where-is-rabies-found\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhere is Rabies Found?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-where-is-rabies-found\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-where-is-rabies-found\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>The infectious rabies virus is found in the wet saliva and central nervous system (CNS) tissue of a rabid animal. In the environment, the virus is readily inactivated by drying, sunlight, high temperatures, and many disinfectants.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"what-are-the-symptoms-of-rabies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-what-are-the-symptoms-of-rabies\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-what-are-the-symptoms-of-rabies\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the Symptoms of Rabies?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-what-are-the-symptoms-of-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-what-are-the-symptoms-of-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Animals that are ill with rabies may have signs including abnormal behavior, difficulty swallowing, poor balance, paralysis and seizures. The first symptoms of people ill with rabies can be very similar to flu, but symptoms quickly progress and may include prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, and insomnia. Once any mammal becomes ill with rabies, progression to death typically occurs rapidly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-soon-after-exposure-do-symptoms-appear\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-soon-after-exposure-do-symptoms-appear\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-soon-after-exposure-do-symptoms-appear\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Soon After Exposure do Symptoms Appear?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-soon-after-exposure-do-symptoms-appear\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-soon-after-exposure-do-symptoms-appear\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Symptoms in humans normally appear in two to eight weeks, but longer periods between exposure and the onset of symptoms have been reported. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"what-should-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-exposed-to-rabies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-what-should-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-exposed-to-rabies\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-what-should-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-exposed-to-rabies\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Should I do if I Think I Have Been Exposed to Rabies?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-what-should-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-exposed-to-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-what-should-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-exposed-to-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>If you are bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and lots of water.<\/li>\n<li>If possible, capture the animal under a large box or can, or at least identify it before it runs away.<\/li>\n<li>Call an animal control or law enforcement officer to come get the animal. Notify your doctor immediately and explain how you got the bite.<\/li>\n<li>Most people know when they have been bitten by a bat, but there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you wake up to find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, do not destroy or discard the bat. Call your local health department for advice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-can-i-help-prevent-and-control-rabies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-help-prevent-and-control-rabies\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-help-prevent-and-control-rabies\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Can I Help Prevent and Control Rabies?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-help-prevent-and-control-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-help-prevent-and-control-rabies\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Vaccinate your dogs, cats, ferrets, and selected livestock. In Virginia, rabies vaccinations\u00a0<strong>are required\u00a0<\/strong>for dogs and cats.<\/li>\n<li>If your pet is attacked or bitten by a wild animal, report it to the local health or animal control authorities and be prepared to assist with exposure response such as booster vaccination and confinement.<\/li>\n<li>Do not let your pet roam free.<\/li>\n<li>Do not leave garbage or pet food outside.<\/li>\n<li>Do not keep wild animals as pets. If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to your local animal control department and do not approach it.<\/li>\n<li>Contact your local health department if you think you or your pet may have been exposed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-2057-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-2057-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-2057-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-2057-3-0-0\" ><h3 class=\"widget-title\">How Can I Learn More About Rabies?<\/h3>\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><ul>\n<li>If you have concerns about rabies, contact your healthcare provider.<\/li>\n<li>Call your local health department. Click here for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/local-health-districts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">directory of local health departments<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/animal-contact-human-health\/rabies-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Virginia Department of Health&#8217;s Rabies Control<\/a> page.<\/li>\n<li>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/rabies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> website.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jump to: Animal Bites | Rabies All animal bites have the potential to spread diseases, like rabies. Even if you own the animal or you know the owner, it&#8217;s important to report all animal bites to us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":514,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2057","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Animal Bites and Rabies - Rappahannock Rapidan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/rappahannock-rapidan\/animal-bites-and-rabies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Animal Bites and Rabies - Rappahannock Rapidan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jump to: Animal Bites | Rabies All animal bites have the potential to spread diseases, like rabies. 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