Rabies: Immediate Care, Vaccination, and When to Seek Medical Attention
This service offers information and guidance on what to do if an animal bites or scratches you, or if you come into contact with its saliva or other body fluids.
About
Rabies is an infectious disease that spreads from animals to humans. It is transmitted through a bite, scratch, or contact with saliva or body fluids from an infected animal. Without vaccination, rabies is fatal.
Who is this service for
Anyone who has been bitten, scratched, or exposed to an animal’s saliva or body fluids—usually from a dog or cat, but occasionally from other mammals, like rodents.
Care
Act immediately by following the steps below:
1. Immediate wound cleaning and disinfection
- Immediate local care aims to flush out any virus in the animal’s saliva.
- Thoroughly wash any wounds right away with soap and water for 15 minutes.
- Disinfect any wounds with 70% alcohol or an iodine solution.
2. Go to the local health bureau
- Go as soon as possible to the local health bureau to assess your risk and if you need rabies-related medical care.
- If a child is injured, a parent must accompany them.
- At the health bureau, you’ll be asked about the bite, the animal involved, and whether it needs to be quarantined.
- If the health bureau is closed, go to the urgent care center (emergency room).
- Go to the health bureau even if the animal is known to be vaccinated.
- For minor scratches or bites from a pet that has an owner, you can visit the health bureau the next day if it is closed.
What the health bureau needs
- If available, bring with you the animal owner’s details: name, phone number, and address.
- Vaccination records of the person who was bitten or scratched.
- Medical documents related to the bite, such as ER discharge papers or a medical record from the doctor who treated you.
This service is free of charge
Please note, if there is any difference or conflict between the information on this page and the law, the provisions of the law will apply.