Rabies is a very serious zoonotic (from animals) disease caused by a rhabdovirus belonging to the genus Lyssavirus (a rabies virus). The virus is found in the saliva (spit) and the cerebral spinal fluid of an infected animal. It is usually spread to humans through a bite, and less commonly, a scratch from the infected animal. This virus infects the brain and nervous system of mammals. If not treated in time, a rabies infection is almost always fatal.

Most humans get infected with rabies after being bitten by an infected mammal. Any mammal can be infected by the virus. Wild animals, domestic pets and farm animals have all been known to carry the disease. 

In BC, the only animals that carry rabies are several species of bats. There is occasional spread of bat-variant rabies to other animal species, but no evidence of continues spread in other species in BC. About 0.5% of bats carry rabies in BC but on average, 8% of BC bats sent for rabies testing are positive. That is because bats that come in contact with humans or domestic animals are more likely to carry rabies. Bat bites and scratches may transmit rabies. Bats should not be touched. Bat bite marks can be difficult to see because of their small size or they may disappear quickly. Speak with a healthcare provider for assessment if you have had contact with a bat.

In BC, rabies spread through bites from other animals is rare. However, strange behaviour in pets and other animals may mean they are infected with rabies. Avoid contact with any wild or unfamiliar animal. 

In other parts of Canada, rabies is found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, red foxes and arctic foxes.

Bites from unimmunized dogs cause most human rabies worldwide. Most cases occur in Africa and Asia. BC travellers to Asia can incur monkey bites. Since monkeys can carry rabies, rabies immunization is recommended after a monkey bite or scratch.

What do I do if I may be exposed to rabies?

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that you think may have rabies, or if you have had contact with a bat, you should:

• Immediately wash the wound well with soap and water under moderate pressure (e.g. a running tap) for at least 15 minutes, then flush thoroughly with water. This lessens the chance of any infection.
  
• Seek medical attention from a healthcare provider or local public health unit (Find health services | HealthLink BC) immediately.
• If rabies immunization is received in time, rabies in humans can be prevented. If you wait until the symptoms start to appear, it is usually too late to begin effective medical treatment.

Two products are used to prevent rabies:

• One dose of rabies immune globulin that helps to neutralize the virus before it becomes established, and
• A series of rabies vaccine that help your immune system make antibodies against the virus.
  
• For more information, see HealthLink BC File Rabies immune globulin and vaccine.
  

What are the symptoms of rabies in people?

Symptoms generally appear three to eight weeks after exposure but could take up to several years. They include:

• headache
• fever
  
• tingling and itching at the site of the animal bite
  
• anxiety
  
• confusion
  
• difficulty swallowing
  
• hydrophobia (fear of water)
  
• excessive drooling, muscle spasm or weakness
• strange behaviour
  
• progressive paralysis
  

If immunizations to prevent the disease are not administered before the onset of symptoms, death is almost certain.

What do I do if my pet may be exposed to rabies?

If your pet is bitten or bites a bat or another potentially rabid animal:

• Take your pet to your veterinarian.
  
• If the bat or other potentially rabid animal is available, your vet may send it for rabies testing.
  
• Your veterinarian may give your pet rabies shots and may ask you to keep your pet in your home for several months to see if it develops signs of rabies.
  
• Your pet is only at risk of transmitting rabies to you or another pet if it is showing signs of the disease or in the few days before it develops signs of rabies.

What are the signs of rabies in animals?

• Signs in animals are variable, and can include changes in behaviour, neurological signs, and progressive paralysis.
  
• All mammals are able to transmit and become infected with rabies. Two forms of rabies seen in animals are ‘furious’ and ‘dumb.’ The furious form causes animals to show aggression, while the dumb form results in animals being sick and lethargic.
• Suspicious behaviour in bats includes weakness, loss of flight ability and daytime appearances. If a bat is hanging off the ground, it should not be considered suspicious.

What do I do if I find a wild animal which may be rabid?

• Do not touch the animal.
  
• Contact the BC Wildlife Health Program at (250-751-7246).
  
• If you find an animal which is injured or orphaned (and not likely to be rabid), contact a wildlife rehabilitation center (http://www.wrnbc.org/contact/find-a-local-rehabilitator/ ).
  

How do I manage live bats?

If someone has been bitten or scratched by a bat, or had contact with a bat, you must contact public health or a healthcare provider for an assessment.  If a pet has been in contact with a bat, the owner should contact their veterinarian for assessment. Do not attempt to capture the bat if you have not had previous contact with it, as this will increase your chance of contact with a potentially rabid animal.

If captured, the bat can be tested for rabies. If the bat is still alive and the person already exposed can safely catch the bat, follow these steps:

• If the bat is inside, close all doors and windows in the area.
• Put on a hat, leather or puncture-proof gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, and pants.
• Use a blanket, net, broom or towel to catch the bat (without touching it and while protecting any exposed area such as the face).
• Use gloves to put the bat in a sealable container with air holes.
• Place the container in a cool, safe place away from human or pet contact.
  
• Contact your local public health unit for further instructions.
  

Alternatively, ask for help from a pest control specialist or your local public health unit may also be able to suggest someone to help.

Call your local public health unit for an assessment and to have the bat tested for rabies. If it does not have rabies, immunization may not be necessary.

Dispose of gloves used to transfer the bat.

How do I manage dead bats?

• Do not touch the bat with your bare hands
• If you find a dead bat in the woods or away from populated areas, just leave it where it is.
• If you find a dead bat in your yard, and you are sure that there has been no human or pet contact -- you can contact the BC Community Bat Program at 1-855-9BC-BATS (1-855-922-2287) to ask if they need to collect it for wildlife health surveillance purposes. They collect dead bats for BC's bat health surveillance program between November 1 to May 31. From June 1 to October 31, they do not collect dead bats, so the bat can be safely disposed in the garbage. 
  
• To move the bat, pick it up with a shovel or inverted plastic bag while wearing disposable gloves. Put it in a plastic bag. Put this bag in a second plastic bag and seal it tight. Either keep it in a cool place until it is picked up or put it in the garbage (unless prohibited by local by-law, contact your municipality). Afterwards, dispose of the gloves, and wash your hands well with soap and water.
  

What do I do if there are bats in my home or a building?

• Bats play an essential role in BC's ecosystem. For example, all species of bats found in BC eat insects, which helps control the population size of pest insects.
  
• If you know of bats living in a building and would like to learn more about how to safely evict them, see www.bcbats.ca 
  

The disease can be prevented by immunization, but the best prevention is avoidance.

In BC, the risk of rabies if there has been no contact with bats is exceedingly small. Immunization against rabies is only offered if contact with a bat or any other animal with suspected or confirmed rabies has occurred, or if you are working in high-risk rabies situations (e.g. veterinarians, laboratory workers).

There are currently rabies vaccines available for cats, dogs and ferrets. Your pets should be vaccinated, and their immunizations should be kept up to date.  Even indoor cats should be vaccinated as they may escape, or they can come into contact with bats that enter houses. Otherwise, your pet could be infected by a rabid animal, and your pet could in turn infect you.

If you are considering adopting a new pet, please be aware that dogs and cats imported from other countries, as well as other parts of Canada (particularly the North), could be infected with the rabies virus. The risk is particularly high for kittens and puppies which are too young to be vaccinated against rabies. In order to enter Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has specific import requirements in place to avoid introducing animal diseases.

What can I do to prevent rabies while travelling?

If you will be travelling for a month or more to areas where rabies is often found, consult a travel clinic to be vaccinated against rabies before you go.

If you are possibly exposed to rabies in another country:

• Rabies is not well controlled in many other parts of the world. If you are bitten by any animal, especially an unprovoked attack, you should get medical advice about rabies prevention, no matter how long ago you were bitten.
• If you receive rabies immunization outside Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe, obtain the name of the immune globulin and vaccine provided (if possible, obtain the labels or packaging). Only certain products are approved for preventing human rabies. Bring these products or product names to your Canadian doctor or call your local public health unit to ask them for advice once you get home.
• If you do not have access to approved immune globulin and vaccine overseas, consider returning to Canada immediately for medical attention.
  

Rabies management in BC is a shared responsibility between provincial and national public health partners, and the findings are available in the latest surveillance report.

Previous versions are available below:

• Rabies  Update  2024