Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to other mammals and humans and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported each year in the United States.
There are many great online resources to learn more about zoonotic disease and its prevention, including:
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to other mammals and humans and is invariably fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported each year in the United States.
Rabies is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies. Pets and livestock can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect them against infection. Among domestic animals, cats are most frequently diagnosed with rabies in New York State.
Some animals almost never get rabies. These include rabbits and small rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters. It is possible for these animals to get rabies, but only in rare circumstances, such as if they are attacked but not killed by a rabid animal.
Reptiles (such as lizards and snakes), amphibians (like frogs), birds, fish and insects do not get or carry rabies.
The first sign of rabies is usually a change in an animal's behavior. It may become unusually aggressive or tame. The animal may lose its fear of people and natural enemies. A wild animal may appear affectionate and friendly. It may become excited or irritable and attack anything in its path.
Symptoms also include staggering, convulsions, choking, frothing at the mouth and paralysis. Many animals will make very unusual sounds. Infected animals usually die within one week after showing signs of rabies.
People usually get exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites them. Exposure may also occur if saliva from a rabid animal enters an open cut or mucous membrane (eyes, nose or mouth).
Wash all wounds thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
Report all animal bites, even if they seem minor. In Dutchess County, call (845) 486-3404. Outside of Dutchess County, please visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website.
Keep track of the animal that exposed you and report this information to Dutchess County so the animal can be captured safely. In the case of a bat, you may be able to safely capture it yourself and bring it to the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community, or your local health department if outside of Dutchess. The specimen will then be transferred to NYS Department of Health for rabies testing.
Healthy dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock that have bitten a person or another animal, will be confined under the direction of the Department and observed for ten days following the bite. If the animal remains healthy during this period, the animal did not transmit rabies at the time of the bite.
Other types of animals that cause a potential human exposure must be tested for rabies under the direction of the Department. If an animal cannot be observed or tested for rabies, treatment may be necessary for the people exposed. We will assist you and your physician to determine whether treatment is necessary.
Treatment after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) administered as soon as possible after exposure, plus 4 doses of rabies vaccine given over two weeks.
If treatment is initiated promptly following a rabies exposure, rabies can be prevented. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the disease almost always results in death.
If a bat is found in your house, and there is a possibility that it had direct contact with a human or pet, then the bat will need to be captured and tested. This includes situations where a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, unattended child, intoxicated or mentally compromised person. Don’t release the bat unless you can be sure that there was no contact between the bat and any people or domestic animals and have consulted with the health department.
Confine the bat to one room by closing all windows and doors, turn on the lights, and wait for the bat to land. Wearing gloves, approach the bat slowly, cover the bat with a coffee can or similar container and slide a piece of cardboard or lid under the can trapping the bat. Following this procedure will ensure that the bat’s brain remains intact, which is necessary for testing. Tape the cardboard or lid to the container and place the container in a refrigerator or in a cooler of ice. If it is during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you should then call the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health at (845)486-3404 to make arrangements for the bat to be tested for rabies. If it is after normal business hours, on the weekend, or a holiday, you should call the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health answering service at (845) 431-6465.
If you are unable or unwilling to capture the bat, you can find licensed nuisance wildlife control officers, who work on a fee-for-service basis, at
https://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/sls_searches/index.cfm?p=live_nwco
To learn how to capture a bat safely, view a short video on YouTube from NYSDOH (1 minute 22 seconds).
For additional information…
The best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to vaccinate them and keep their shots up-to-date. Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health provides free rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets of residents at their Pet Rabies Vaccination Clinics. Non-residents may have their pets vaccinated for a small fee ($10).
Our next Rabies Vaccination Clinic is February 19, 2023 from 8am-12pm at the Dutchess County SPCA. Register at Dutchess Delivery to receive a notice when vaccine clinics are announced.
If your pet has been injured by a rabid animal, or potentially rabid animal, contact your veterinarian to get medical care. Even if your pet has been vaccinated, a booster dose of rabies vaccine may be needed within five days of the incident.
In Dutchess County, call the Department to determine what additional follow-up may be needed at 845-486-3404.
The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health's Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf) for printing out and distributing to your school, community group, or business.
