Rabies - Frequently Asked Questions

What is rabies?
Rabies is a viral infection of the nervous system that can infect almost all mammals, including humans. Worldwide, the principal hosts for rabies are the domestic (tame) dog, and bats. Once infected, the virus becomes concentrated in an infected animal's saliva and is passed on through the animal's bite. It can also be passed on by contact with infected saliva through scratches, licks on broken skin and around the mouth and eyes. It is estimated that following a deep wound from an animal with rabies, a significant proportion of people will go on to develop rabies. Rabies is a notifiable disease in Ireland.

How common is rabies?
According to the World Health Organization, rabies is estimated to cause 60,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. At least 30 countries, including Ireland, are officially rabies-free for terrestrial animals (see below), usually because of strict regulations about animal movement. There has not been a confirmed case of rabies in animals in Ireland since 1902.

How does rabies make you ill?
After exposure to (coming in close contact with) the saliva of an infected animal, the virus multiplies (grows) in the person’s tissues. If not treated, it will spread through the nerves to the spinal cord and brain. When the virus reaches the brain, it rapidly multiplies and passes to the salivary glands. At this stage initial symptoms of feeling generally unwell, fever, or headache followed by anxiety, convulsions and paralysis appear. Due to spasm of throat muscles, an affected person may find it difficult to swallow even water (hydrophobia). By the time symptoms develop, the disease has become very advanced, and it is almost always fatal.

How quickly does rabies develop after exposure?
On average, symptoms of rabies develop between 2 and 12 weeks following exposure to the virus. This is likely to be shorter if any wounds from an infected animal are on the face, head and neck. Sometimes it may take many months or even years for symptoms of rabies to develop following an exposure. However, even if many years have passed since a suspicious exposure, a person should be assessed for the need for rabies vaccination.

Can rabies be treated?
There is no treatment for rabies once symptoms develop. Fortunately, there is a very effective vaccine against rabies.

The vaccine works by stimulating the body's defences to produce antibodies that will kill the rabies virus. When someone is suspected of having been exposed to any animal with rabies, Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) is also given at the same time as the vaccine. This gives a dose of ready-made antibodies to immediately begin the process of destroying any rabies virus. It is important to ensure that vaccine and HRIG are given as soon as possible. Because rabies is fatal if not treated, it is vital that following possible contact with an animal in a country where there is rabies you seek urgent medical attention and advice.

How likely are you to catch rabies?
Rabies is a very rare disease, and your risk only really becomes significant if you travel to parts of the world where rabies is common in terrestrial animals. If you are exposed to an animal in these countries, your risk of developing rabies is low, but you must immediately seek medical advice and report this contact to a local hospital/clinic to enable assessment. If a person is bitten by a rabid animal, a significant minority will become infected. Deep bites are most likely to pass on infection.

Where is rabies found?
Rabies in terrestrial animals (animals that do not fly) is widespread in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is present but more controlled in the US, Canada and Mexico. Western and Northern Europe, and New Zealand are considered to be rabies free. However, bat rabies (see below) is a risk in every country in the world. Rabies can be passed on from dead animals as well as live animals.

Which animals pose the greatest risk?
The vast majority of cases of rabies are caused by licks, scratches or bites from domestic dogs, primarily in Africa, Asia and South America. Cats and other carnivores such as foxes, raccoons and skunks can also be infected.

Do bats in Ireland pose a risk of rabies?
A tiny proportion of bats in Europe carry bat rabies. Bats in the UK are known to carry rabies so the assumption is that any bat in Ireland (and the UK) poses a risk of rabies. If a person is exposed to a bat in Ireland, they will be assessed and likely offered rabies vaccine and perhaps HRIG, given the small possibility that they have been exposed to the virus.

What should I do if I find a bat in Ireland?
Bats are a protected species. It is important that members of the public should not approach a bat they come across. If a bat is seen during the day or allows a person to approach them, they are unwell and should not be approached. Bats should only ever be approached and handled by those trained and qualified to do so. Bats have extremely small teeth and bites may go unnoticed. If a person (of any age) wakens up to find a bat in the room in which they were asleep, they must seek medical advice and be assessed.

People who find a sick/dead bat should not touch the animal. Seek advice from a bat conservation organisation or other wildlife welfare group. Licensed bat handlers and those who regularly handle bats should ensure they have the relevant rabies vaccination and should always wear protective gloves when handling bats.

How am I most likely to be potentially exposed to rabies?
Must people who seek advice about possible rabies exposures, will have been exposed abroad. The UK’s Health Security Agency maintain a list of all countries in the world and their risk of rabies from terrestrial animals. Remember: all countries pose a risk of bat rabies; while Ireland, the UK and western Europe are considered low risk for bat rabies, everywhere else is considered high risk for bat rabies.

The most likely scenario in which you had been exposed to rabies is following exposure to a domestic dog in a rabies endemic country. In countries where rabies is endemic the availability of rabies vaccine and HRIG varies. In most countries, larger hospitals and health clinics will be able to treat a potential rabies exposure effectively, in rural areas access may be a problem. If this is the case, you should seek treatment in a larger city or private hospital.

Should I get preventive rabies vaccination before I travel to another country?
The rabies vaccine that is given to treat possible rabies exposures is used to prevent rabies. It is a very safe vaccine with few side effects and is virtually 100 per cent effective.

Prevention of rabies is crucial when visiting countries where rabies is endemic, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. If you are traveling to these areas, the following should be considered:

• Consult a travel health professional/travel medicine clinic before your trip to determine if pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended based on your destination and planned activities.
• Vaccination is particularly important if you will be staying for over a month, engaging in outdoor activities, or travelling to areas with limited access to medical care.
• If children are travelling, getting expert advice before travel is especially important as children may not report contact with potentially rabid animals (especially dog and cats) when travelling overseas.
• If you are planning activities which are likely to bring you into contact with animals in these countries, you should get vaccinated.
  In general, if you are spending a brief period on holiday or business trip in a rabies endemic country that has well developed health services and you are staying in tourist-oriented urban areas, then rabies (pre-exposure) vaccination may not be recommended. Once you move outside urban areas, then the risk becomes greater. It is very important to seek travel medicine advice before travel if you have been diagnosed with any form of immunosuppressive disorder.

How can I reduce my risk of rabies when travelling in rabies endemic countries?
The best way to reduce your risk of rabies when travelling is to avoid any physical contact with local animals - domestic/tame or wild (including bats). Travellers should:

• not approach animals
• not attempt to pick up an unusually tame animal or one that appears to be unwell/injured
• not attract stray animals by offering food or by being careless with litter
• be aware that certain activities may attract dogs (e.g. running, cycling)

What do I do if I have been bitten by/exposed to an animal in a rabies endemic country?
If you are bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal in a rabies-endemic country, you must take these initial steps immediately:

• Wash the wound thoroughly with lots of soap and water for several minutes – this will significantly reduce the risk of infection. If the eye or mouth have been licked, rinse these with clean water for several minutes.
• Get medical advice without delay – even if you are already immunised. Do not wait until you get back to Ireland. The sooner post exposure treatment is given, the more effective it will be.
• When you get back to Ireland, seek medical advice via your GP or local hospital on how to complete your course of rabies treatment.

Make sure to keep all documentation you were given in the country in which the incident happened.

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Last updated: 3 July 2025