Increase in Rabies Exposures Prompts Warning

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Increase in Rabies Exposures Prompts Warning

Bethany Pope

Phone: 314-251-4472

Quick Facts: Washington

by Janette Dietzler-Otte DNP, RN, CIC, senior infection preventionist, Mercy Hospital Washington and Christina Mayberry, director of quality improvement, Mercy Hospital Washington

Key points:

While rabies exposures can happen any time of the year, Mercy Washington has seen a marked increase over the last several months.
Mercy Hospital Washington’s infection preventionist provided some tips to help know what to do after a potential exposure and when to seek care.
After an animal bite or scratch, clean the wound thoroughly.
Bats are especially concerning if found in a room where someone sleeps because bites go unnoticed due to their tiny teeth.

Bat teeth are so tiny bites often go unnoticed.

As we spend more time outdoors during warm weather months, it’s common for people to encounter unfamiliar animals. Stray dogs and cats pose a risk of rabies exposure because their rabies vaccination status is unknown. In the same way, contact with wild animals — especially raccoons and bats — should be avoided because they may also carry rabies.

Rabies is preventable when treatment starts before symptoms develop, though it is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. After an animal bite, scratch or other possible rabies exposure, a healthcare provider may recommend a series of treatments called Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (RPEP).

Here are some tips to be aware of if you think you’ve been exposed.

Immediately after a bite or scratch:

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
Irrigate the wound with water or a dilute povidone-iodine solution, if available.
Seek medical care as soon as possible.

Treatment may include:

Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) given once at the first medical visit.
Rabies vaccine series is often administered over several visits after exposure, typically on days zero, three, seven and 14.

Prevention Tips:

Do not approach, feed or handle wild animals.
Avoid contact with stray dogs and cats.
Teach children never to touch unfamiliar animals, even if they appear friendly.
Report animal bites, scratches or unusual animal behavior to local health authorities.
If a bat is found in a room where someone has slept, seek medical advice. Rabies exposure from bats can occur even without a visible bite or scratch because bat teeth are very small.

Prompt medical evaluation following a potential rabies exposure can be lifesaving. Seek medical care immediately and consult local public health authorities regarding the need for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.