Vaccination
Rabies in humans
Rabies is a contagious and fatal disease. It is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is usually transmitted through the saliva of an infected domestic or wild animal, through a bite, scratch, or if the animal licks a wound, skin lesion, eyes, mouth, or nose of a person.
Rabies is one of the most serious diseases transmissible to humans, as it is fatal once general symptoms appear. However, preventive measures can be taken before symptoms appear.
There is no treatment to cure rabies once symptoms appear. Once symptoms appear, death is inevitable and usually occurs within 14 days. You must therefore act quickly to prevent symptoms from appearing after a bite, scratch, or contact with the saliva of a potentially infected animal.
In Quebec, rabies is a reportable disease (MADO).
Symptoms
First, there are general signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Shivers
- Feeling unwell, like the onset of a cold
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Irritability
These symptoms may appear up to 10 days before the onset of neurological symptoms. These can take various forms:
- Pain, numbness, or itching at the site of the bite, scratch, or lick, or near that area
- Weakness or tremors in the part of the body that was bitten, scratched, or licked
- Muscle contractions
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
The following symptoms may also occur in some people and may vary in duration:
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Agitation
- Aggressive behavior
- Fear of water
- Muscle weakness
- Severe paralysis
- Coma
- Difficulty or inability to speak
Complications
- Death
Transmission
Rabies is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. A person can also contract rabies if the saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with:
- the eyes;
- the inside of the nose or mouth;
- an existing wound.
These animals can transmit rabies in Quebec
- Bats
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Foxes
- All wild animals
- Pets, such as dogs, cats, and ferrets
- Farm animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses
Take off with peace of mind!
Make an appointment for your travel vaccination today!
Prevention
- Primary vaccination if you are at risk. The nurse will inform you of this during your travel consultation. Factors that help in making this decision include exposure to risk and the possibility of quickly reaching a medical clinic.
- Avoid touching animals while traveling, even if they appear friendly. Travelers often tell us about problems they have had with bites that ruined their trip.
- Never touch a dead or sick animal with your bare hands. If you do so accidentally, wash your hands immediately with soap.
- Avoid approaching, touching, petting, or feeding unfamiliar, stray, or wild animals, even if they appear harmless.
- Teach children safe behaviors.
- Never leave young children unattended with an animal.
- Do not let your pets wander and prevent them from coming into contact with wild or stray animals.
- Keep dogs in an area safe from wild animals, either tied up or on a leash.
- If you see any stray pets, please notify your local municipality immediately.
- If an animal bites your pet, consult a veterinarian immediately. Avoid touching your pet or wear gloves to protect yourself. Fresh saliva from the biting animal may be on your pet's fur or in the wound.
- Keep raccoons, skunks, and bats away from homes and areas where pets are kept. For example, you can block access to buildings and trash cans.
- Do not treat or adopt orphaned wild animals, even if they appear harmless. In addition to being illegal, adopting wild animals carries risks of disease transmission.
Infected animal
What to do in case of contact?
If you have been bitten, scratched, or think you have been in contact with the rabies virus through a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention immediately.
While waiting to see a doctor, here is what you should do:
- Clean the wound
Even if the wound does not appear serious, clean it immediately with plenty of water and soap for 10 to 15 minutes. If the animal's saliva comes into contact with the eye, mouth, or nose, rinse with plenty of water without soap for several minutes. - Contact Info-Santé 811 immediately if you are in Quebec. Otherwise, go to a medical clinic immediately.
- Keep the animal involved alive*
It is important not to dispose of the animal. You will receive instructions about it from the healthcare professional.
*If the potentially infected animal is a pet or farm animal (e.g., a cat or pig), keep it alive and under observation. A minimum observation period of 10 days following the injury may be requested by a health professional and supervised by the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ).
*If it is a wild animal, such as a bat or raccoon, testing may be required. Until further instructions are provided, it is important not to dispose of the animal.
Reporting suspicious wild animals
Please report any suspicious wild animals, such as raccoons,
skunks, and foxes. Do so even if you have not come into contact with these animals.
Pricing
Rabavert® • Imovax-Rage®
The vaccination schedule
Rabies in humans
| Clientele | Number of doses | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Three (3) doses | Second dose on day 7 | Third dose between days 21 and 28 | Post-exposure booster doses |
Our services are offered in our clinic and satellite clinic as well as in your home. Appointments preferred.
For more information, please contact us.
Accès Infirmières | New clinic
82, Route 338
Les Coteaux, QC J7X 1A2
Accès Infirmières
287, boulevard D'Anjou
Châteauguay, QC J6J 2R4