SANTÉ • HEALTH
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to lead to transmission. 4
When a person gets rabies, it’s sometimes because a pet
got rabies first. That’s why vaccinating family pets against
rabies is an easy first step to rabies prevention.3
Treatment
Good wound care can reduce the risk of rabies infection by
up to 90%. After washing the wound with soap and water
for 15 minutes, apply 70% ethanol (rubbing alcohol) or an
iodine-containing solution.
4
After suspected exposure, see a doctor right away to as-
RABIES
BITES
sess rabies risk and discuss treatment options. 4 Rabies cannot
be diagnosed in people before symptoms emerge.
A series of rabies vaccinations can prevent the disease
from developing if they are received soon enough. Symptoms
usually take about one to three months to develop, although
this can vary from several days to several years. Once early
symptoms develop – headache, fever, fatigue and feeling un-
well – there is no treatment to stop the virus from causing
death. 4
What kids should know
• Never touch a dead or a wild animal. Even contact with a
rabid animal that’s dead can cause rabies.
• Infected animals may have no symptoms at all; however,
some common signs of rabies include difficulty swallowing, a lot of drooling or saliva, and uncharacteristic
behaviour.
• Tell an adult if you see a dead animal, one that seems sick,
or is acting odd, and if you find a bat indoors or outside.
3
Visit Vaccines411.ca at http://vaccines411.ca/en/vaccine-
info/Vaccines-Resources/Rabies-Resources
for
resources
Rabies doesn’t only affect
animals. Do you know what to
do if you’ve been bitten? Visit
www.vaccines411.ca
to learn more or to nd a
clinic near you that vaccinates
against rabies.
that will provide you with all you need to know about this
potentially deadly virus.
Know where to go to find your nearest CLSC or vaccination
clinic. Visit Vaccines411.ca. M
Scan to view our
rabies resources page
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