Description of the Disease

Rabies is a severe viral disease that affects the central nervous system, usually contracted from the bite of an infected animal.  It is nearly always fatal without proper medical attention.

If a wild or domestic animal has bitten you, seek immediate medical attention from your doctor, and contact the Health Department at (360) 414-5599 to report the bite.

Related Health Department Web Links

• Bats, Rats and Mice

• West Nile Virus

• Zoonotic-Vector Control

Related Outside Websites

• Rabies - CDC

• Rabies Vaccination Requirements

• Rabies - Washington Department of Health

• Rabies- NASPHV Compendium: Animal Rabies Prevention

• Rabies - World Health Organization

Recovery of a Patient from Clinical Rabies in Wisconsin in 2004

Symptoms

• Headache
• Fever
• Person progressing rapidly to agitation
• Confusion
• Paralysis
• Difficulty swallowing

Symptoms usually appear within two to eight weeks of exposure.  Your medical health provider can administer a series of rabies vaccines to prevent rabies.