Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Rabies

Rabies is rare in the United States and Canada. It is known to be primarily a disease of

animals.

If a fire fighter is bitten or scratched by a wild animal or stray domestic animal, he or she should seek medical evaluation immediately. The wound also should be attended to immediately with a thorough cleaning and flushing. The animal should be isolated by the proper agency for evaluation of the presence of the rabies virus.

If a rabies exposure risk has occurred, the firefighter may be given rabies immunoglobulin on day one and a series of rabies vaccine injections stating on day of exposure and continuing for a month post exposure.

Learn More

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/