Steps To Take When Exposed To Rabies

by Jenn Smith July 17, 2019

The death of a Vancouver man bitten by a rabid bat has raised concerns about the fate of outdoor enthusiasts from rabies.

The 21-year-old infected man was exposed in mid-May after a bat ran into his hand. He showed symptoms of rabies weeks later, and passed away later in July.

Despite this unfortunate scenario, British Columbia public health officials are speaking out against rabies.

Rabies are rare in Canada, so rare that only 25 people across six provinces have died since 1924.

What to do if exposed to rabies:

According to a news article from the CBC (What you need to know about rabies in Canada"), infected individuals will need to do the following:

Remove any clothing contaminated with an infected animals saliva, brain and nervous system tissue or fluids.
Thoroughly clean the wound.
Do not cover the wound.

Rabies treatment and antibiotics are available if one goes to the doctor immediately. Usually, rabies symptoms appear within two weeks after contact.

Rabies are common in wildlife species such as raccoons, foxes, bats and opossums; however, 99 percent of rabies infections come from dogs! Therefore, it's best to keep domestic dogs away from wildlife with fencing or other wildlife management strategy.

While the risk of rabies is higher in Asia, Africa and South America, the potential for the spread of rabies exists across North America.